RALPH W. SECORD PRESSis owned and operated by the Mid-Peninsula Library Cooperative, 424 Stephenson Avenue, Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801. The Cooperative provides central services to member libraries located in the Michigan Upper Peninsula Counties of Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron, Menominee, and Ontonagon. Since 1971, the Cooperative's press has specialized in publishing books about the Upper Peninsula. The press is named in honor of Ralph W. Secord, Michigan's 1975 Librarian of the Year, founder and guiding spirit of both the press and the cooperative until his retirement in 1981.

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First Printing 1994
Manufactured in the United States of America.

Library of congress Cataloging-in-publication Data

Cummings, William John.

All aboard! : along the tracks in Dickinson County, Michigan / compiled by William John Cummings.

When I began compiling this account of the development of the eastern Menominee Iron Range in conjunction with the extension of the railroad, a publication of this size and scope wasn't contemplated. However, as I researched, vicariously traveling "along the tracks" of the railroads left in the columns of a number of regional contemporary newspapers, I found myself helplessly lured deeper and deeper into the fascinating lore of our area's affair with the Iron Horse. In the towns and villages which sprung up as the railroad crossed first from east to west and then to the north in what is today Dickinson County, life was dependent upon and centered around the railroads. This was true for almost all American communities between the mid-nineteenth century and the mid-twentieth century.

My life began just as the sonorous whistle of the passenger train locomotives was waning in our area. In fact, two of my earliest childhood memories center on the railroad. Before starting grade school I can remember traveling to northern Minnesota with my parents and grandmother to visit my great-aunt and great-uncle. I remember the rhythmic clacking of the track and gentle swaying of the cars, and of being served breakfast in the dining car, watching the rich Wisconsin farmlands roll by as I ate my pancakes. Even more vivid is my recollection of the trip my first grade class (Westwood School, Mrs. Emma Jacobson, teacher), took on the Milwaukee Road from Iron Mountain to Wausaukee. How excited we were as we boarded the train tightly clasping the little brown paper bags containing the lunches our mothers had prepared especially for this trip.

Many of the songs and books of childhood centered around the mystique and lore of the railroad. In my generation, most everyone was familiar with The Little Engine That Could and could sing "Down by the station, early in the morning, see the little pufferbellies all in a row....." Who wouldn't have known the great American folk hero Casey Jones! Who couldn't sing "I've Been Working on the Railroad" complete with the chorus beginning "someone's in the kitchen with Dinah !"

The Big Band Era was drawing to a close, but Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and the "Tuxedo Junction" were favorites on the radio. Johnny Mercer's "Or the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" won the Academy Award for best song in 1946.

Meredith Wilson magically added to the lore of the railroad at the turn of the century in small town America in the opening number from his famous Broadway musical comedy TheMusic Man. After the conductor announces, "All aboard! River City next station stop! River City next!," a group of traveling salesmen, through clever, rhythmic dialogue bemoaning the demise of credit and jostling motions unforgettably capture a ride down the track behind a steam engine.

In the
mid-1870's hundreds of men were working on the Menominee Range Railway, a branch railroad of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company. Although iron ore deposits had been located in the area before 1850, without this railroad there was no way to transport the ore either directly to the markets by train or by train to the port of Escanaba. The Menominee Range Railway began at Forty-Two or Powers Station (so designated because it was 42 miles from Menominee) and its first terminus was Quinnesec. By the time the rails reached Quinnesec toward the end of October, 1877, plans were already underway to extend this branch line to Florence, Wisconsin, passing through Iron Mountain and Commonwealth.

Four railroads served the Dickinson County area over the years: the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company, the Milwaukee & Northern (later the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul; later still the Milwaukee Road), the Escanaba & Lake superior and the Wisconsin & Michigan Railway.

A brief segment explains the extension of the railroad to the western Upper Peninsula. For further reading I suggest Frank Bourle's excellent chapter on the railroad in A Most Superior Land: Life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. So you, too, can be lured into our area's railroad history, the articles which follow chronologically appear as written, with all the charm, wit and spice common to journalism of the era.

Special thanks are due to the Mid-Peninsula Library Cooperative, the Dickinson County Library. the Menominee Range Historical Museum and Wesley
Perron.

July 17, 1990

William J.
Cummings

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ALL ABOARD

Along the Tracks in Dickinson County, Michigan

Before the advent of the railroad, wagons provided the most common mode of land transportation, and were capable of covering little more than 30 miles a day. Thus, most Americans lived and died close to their birthplace, seldom traveling more than 50 miles from home.
With the departure of the nation's first passenger train from Charleston, South Carolina, on Christmas Day, 1830, the railroad rapidly began to transform America's life style. By 1850, powerful engines were moving trains loaded with people and goods along at 40 to 50 miles per hour, making trips of 300 miles in a single day. Indeed, the extent to which the railroad became a vital part of daily living during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is difficult to imagine as the twenty-first century approaches.
Following the Civil War, passenger traffic continued to expand as tracks engulfed the continent like a huge spider web. Communities competed to attract rail companies as the construction fever increased. By 1900, the Official Guide of the Railways contained an index of some 55,000 stations across the United States served by more than 1,200 railroads. After World War I, the number of passenger trains reached its peak when 20,000 scheduled trains operated daily.
The railroad depot was likely to be the busiest place in town throughout the day and half the night. Not only were passengers arriving and departing, but all of the community's mail and much of its merchandise, via the Railway Express Agency, was dispatched at the depot which was also frequently the sole source of telegraph communication. An agent, ticket clerk, car inspector, crossing watchman, baggage men, crewmen changing with those arriving, and perhaps a waiting switch-engine crew to add or remove cars were all required to keep operations running smoothly. Drivers of rigs to transport passengers and draymen to take trunks to and from the depot were also part of the scene at the depot.

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Passenger comfort varied considerably depending on whether the cars were on through runs or local runs. The day coaches were of all-wood construction, gas lighted, heated with coal stoves that fried the nearest passengers and left those farthest away marginally chilly. These coaches were also equipped with private but crude toilets which afforded a view of the roadbed below. Cinders worked their way inside throughout the seasons, but particularly when the weather was hot and the windows were opened. But, with all its discomforts, travel by rail was far superior to the alternative.
Pullman sleepers were the first cars to be electrically lighted and steam heated. Regular overnight trains to and from such cities as Minneapolis and Chicago offered standard Pullman service with plush green upholstered seats by day and 12-section upper and lower berths by night. Dining cars, the pride of most railroads, were often the subject of competitive advertising. Snow-white linen, sparkling table service and excellent cuisine produced meals that were equal to those of the finest big-city restaurants.
Train travel in Michigan's Upper Peninsula was at its peak shortly after the turn of the century, when 14 common carrier railroads offering scheduled freight and passenger service were in operation. In a 24-hour period no less than 178 passenger trains huffed and puffed across the peninsula, and this unbelievable figure doesn't include the many trains on lumber company railroads that served logging camps. Most of these logging trains also carried passengers on a casual basis.
Built in 1857 to replace the mule—pulled cart system used on strap railways, the Iron Mountain Railroad, the first railroad in the Upper Peninsula, was organized to move iron ore from the Negaunee-area iron mines to the port of Marquette. Two years later it became known as the Bay de Noquet & Marquette Railroad, and, following a series of ownership and name changes, eventually became a segment of the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway.
The first railroad to reach the Menominee Iron Range was a branch line of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company. This company was formed in June, 1859, when several lines of railroad which had been built at various times in Wisconsin and Illinois between 1845 and 1855 were purchased and consolidated. Authorized by Congress to build a line from Chicago via Janesville, Wisconsin, to the north line of Wisconsin at the Menominee River, the Chicago & North-Western began at once to build this extension which was completed to Fort Howard (Green Bay), Wisconsin, in 1862.
Meanwhile, back in the Upper Peninsula, a railroad was organized to build a line from the Marquette Iron Range to the head of Little Bay de Noc in Delta County

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in 1856 or 1857. However, this road was never built. In 1861 or 1862 William B. Ogden, president of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad Company, together with Samuel J. Tilden, one of that company's directors, and others, obtained all rights and franchises to this unbuilt railroad and organized the Peninsula Railroad. Ogden and Tilden both had interests in the iron mines on the Marquette Iron Range, and a port on Lake Michigan would facilitate getting the iron ore to the furnaces. S.H. Selden, engineer for the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company, assisted by C.E. Brotherton, located and constructed the Peninsula Railroad from Sand Point (Escanaba) to the Jackson Mine in Negaunee in 1863. A locomotive called the Apple ton [Early locomotives were named, not numbered.] was shipped from Green Bay by scow and unloaded on Christmas day of that same year. With Engineer C.H. Weideman at the throttle, the Appleton powered the first train north shortly thereafter. In October, 1864, the 63—mile Peninsula Railroad was taken over by the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company to become its Peninsula Division. In the meantime, work had started on the first ore dock in Escanaba in 1863 and 1864. By 1865 the dock was completed and the railroad was in operation.
The lumber business at the mouth of the Menominee River and south along the west shore of Green Bay had grown to immense proportions during the years prior to 1871. However, the various towns between Green Bay and Menominee had no' railroad facilities, being served by boat during the season of navigation and by stage during the winter. Lumbermen headed by S.M. Stephenson of Marinette had been negotiating with the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company to extend its line to the Menominee River for some time. Preliminary surveys had already been made from Fort Howard to Menominee, and also north to Escanaba, when the Chicago & North—Western Railway Company finally decided to extend their line through Marinette/Menominee to Escanaba, thus making a rail connection with its Peninsula Division.
The new line was to be built in two sections -- the first from Fort Howard to Marinette and the second from Marinette to Escanaba. Work on the first section began in the spring of 1871 under Edward Powers, engineer of construction, assisted by F.H. Van Cleve. Grading began in June, and by July 1 the work was well started along the whole length of the line. Contractors Dunlap and Ellis were instructed to "rush" the work throughout the very dry summer and fall. The surrounding area suffered terribly from drought, and on October 8 the Peshtigo fire swept over many acres, taking many lives and destroying much property and timberland. The famed Chicago fire occurred at the same time. Nevertheless, the first section was completed so that the first regular passenger train could run from Fort Howard to Marinette on December 27, 1871.
During that same year the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company had a
sur-

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veying party in the field locating the line from Menominee to Escanaba. Two or three preliminary lines were run before the final line was located, following close along the shore of Green Bay the whole distance between the two places. However, when the company became aware of the discovery of large quantities of iron ore to the north on what was to become the Menominee Iron Range, Congress was successfully petitioned to change the line. The new line ran directly north from Menominee to the nearest point to the newly discovered iron range from which a branch from the main line could readily be built to open up these new iron fields. In accordance with this permission to change, the line was located to a point 42 miles north from Menominee which became Powers Station, also known as Forty-Two. While one surveying party was locating the line to Powers, S.H. Selden, now engineer of the Peninsula
Division, again assisted by C.E. Brotherton, was locating the line from Escanaba to Powers.
Work began on the second section of the extension —— from Menominee to Escanaba in the spring of 1872. The contract was let to Wolf and Carpenter, a railway building firm from Iowa. However, when July arrived, little had been accomplished and the firm gave up the contract. The work was immediately let to Alexander Wallace, a contractor who had just finished some railroad work in Iowa. Wallace began with quite a large outfit, but did not seem to accomplish anything more than Wolf and Carpenter, so the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company cancelled his contract and took over building the railroad. Wallace was retained for a time as a general foreman and overseer of the construction. By late fall the road was fairly well built to Powers, and trains were run between Powers and Menominee.
The work had also been pushed from the Escanaba end. By the middle of November the track was laid from Escanaba to a point about two miles west of a station called Indian Town in Menominee County, leaving a gap of about four miles of heavy work in a very unfinished condition. Due to the onset of winter, only enough work was done on this unfinished portion to lay the track and connect with track already laid and in use from Menominee. By the middle of December the track from Menominee was connected with the track from Escanaba at a station called Spalding, and a few days later the first passenger train ran from Escanaba to Menominee, and the whole road from Fort Howard to Escanaba was opened for business. Finally the Peninsula Division was joined to the great system to which it belonged.
With the line between Menominee and Escanaba completed, the Chicago & North— Western Railway Company could now turn its attention to the branch line which would leave Powers from the newly-discovered iron mines then located in Menominee County.
Instead of a narrative account, excerpts taken directly from contemporary news papers will be used to document the development of the railroad in Dickinson
County.

P.M. Brown is clearing away a lot at section 42, or Power's Station, for the purpose of erecting a hotel. The junction of the Menominee Range Road will be there.

To date no records or accounts have been found regarding the work done on the Menominee Range Railroad in 1873. Unfortunately, the Panic of 1873, a nation wide economic depression, occurred, resulting in the cessation of railroad building and exploring for iron ore until the economy began to recover several years later.

The Menominee Range R.R. project don't [sic] appear to pan out with that degree of success which it's [sic] friends wish it. We had hoped ere this to announce that operations had been commenced but we very much fear that the bottom has fell [sic] out of the business, as it is impossible to find anyone who knows anything positive about the intentions of the managers.

The Menominee Journal feels quite positive that the Menominee Range R.R. will be built during the coming summer, but says it can't give reasons for it's [sic] opinion. We certainly hope "the opinion" will prove true, reason or no reason.

S.H. Selden Esq., has been engaged the past week in making a survey of the Menominee Range Railroad and at the present writing it looks as though the branch would speedily be built.

The following account, found while -researching the extension of the Menominee Range Railroad, may help the reader to better identify the time frame in which the Menominee Iron Range was being opened up. The survey by S.H. Selden from Powers Station to the Quinnesec Mine was being run at the same time General George Arm strong Custer led his troops to their death against Sitting Bull and the Sioux

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nation at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The Escanaba Tribune's editorial comments on the matter probably reflect the nation's feelings toward the Indians at this point in our history.

The daily papers of Thursday are teeming with accounts of a terrible massacre of Gen. Custer's brigade on the Little Horn [sic] river. Upwards of 300 men were slaughtered by the Indians whom the troops encountered at that point. The report is fully confirmed by later dispatches. It is to be hoped that this terrible slaughter will have the effect to put a stop to the namby pamby policy of the government and that now a war of extermination will be waged.

The survey of the Menominee Range Railway has been completed, and it is hoped that work will be commenced as soon as possible, although nothing is yet known de finitely what the policy of the company may prove to be.

As we go to press, information comes to us that the Menominee R.R. Co. have filed the map of their route from Spalding to Quinnesec, and we have other news to the effect that work will commence at once. A party of men arrived here last evening from Ishpeming, with a quantity of giant powder, blasting tools & c., and left for the Quinnesec Falls, where the work of blasting the large rocks at the foot of the falls, will be carried into effect. --Menominee Journal.

We have information, seemingly reliable, indicating that work will be speedily
commenced on the construction of the Menominee Iron Range branch of the C. & N.W. R'y. We are not at liberty to give details this week. The building of this road would be of great advantage to Green Bay and this whole section. --Green Bay Advocate.

Judge Ingalls brings word that the prospect is now very fair for building the Menominee Iron Range Railroad, and that considerable work will probably be done on it this winter. The C. & N.W.R.R. Co. has decided to take hold of the matter, and will push the thing with as much dispatch as possible.
--Menominee Herald.
That is all right. It will bring us 25 miles nearer to St. Paul and then, for the next link westward. The people along the Wisconsin River are anxiously waiting to get an outlet to our lake system, this way[.] Speed the good work.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 445 [Saturday, January

27, 1877], page 4, column
1

Work on the Menominee Range Railroad is being pushed rapidly forward. The road commences at a point on the Chicago & Northwestern railway, twenty-three miles from Escanaba, and forty-two from Menominee, at which buildings to be used as offices, stores, boarding houses and dwellings have been erected. Three hundred men are at present employed, which force will be increased as soon as
arrangements can be made for their accommodation. It is intended to have the road built to the Breen mine on section 22, township 39 north of range 28 west, at the opening of navigation, when active work will commence at that mine.

The many friends of Mr. Samuel H. Selden, will be glad to learn that he has so far recovered from his late
indisposition, as to be able to resume his regular duties again as Chief Engineer of the Menominee Range Railway.

TO BE EXTENDED.

The joint committees on railroads last Saturday morning reported in favor of extending the grant to the Menominee Iron Range Railroad for two years on condition that twenty miles be completed before January 1st, 1878, instead of ten miles, as required by the terms of the existing law. The committee say [sic] proper restrictions should be thrown around the grant so as to protect the interests of, and on the completion of the road to secure a permanent benefit to, the State.

On Friday Feb. 16th a man by the name of James Gulley, was very severely injured in a cut, in which he was working, on the new railroad about 3 miles from Sec. 42, by caving in of the side of the cut, which burried [sic] him and several others under it. When extricated his bones were found to be badly broken and pro-

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truding through the flesh in some places. Dr. Mulliken of this place, was summoned as soon as possible and found the main injuries to consist of, compound fracture of both feet, also a compound fracture above one knee and a simple fracture above it. The right arm was also fractured. His wounds were attended to as well as could be done under the circumstances and he was then brought to the Central Hotel in this village. He is now as comfortable as can be expected and as he is a man of robust constitution it is probable that he will recover.

On Saturday morning Mr. Aiken who is one of the foremen engaged on the Menominee Range Ry., had the wind knocked out of him, by a piece of stump weighing about 100 pounds, thrown by a blast just let off, which struck him just below the belt and landed him about twenty feet away. Another man was standing about three or four rods further on; it took his underpinning from under him and reversed ends quicker than you could say Jack Robinson. Fortunately neither parties [sic] were materially injured.

Work on the Menominee [sic] Range Railway is being pushed with great vigor, there being at present a force of not less than 600 men employed[.] Clark, Lipe & Co. have a sub contract for that part of the line west of the Breen mine, and there is no reason to doubt but that the track will be completed to the Quinesaik [sic] early next fall -- possibly in time for the shipment of some ore before the close of navigation. The building of this line is attracting a great deal of attention to the new iron field, and negotiations are now in progress looking to the extension of the railway from the Quinesaik [sic] across the river to the newly discovered deposits in Wisconsin.

Mr. Phillip Secor of Grand Traverse City, heard through the TRIBUNE, of the death of Louis Secor by an accident on the new railroad Feb. 7th, and as he had a son of that name who had left home a few months before, he presumed that it was him [sic]. The description sent in answer to telegrams answered exactly and he accordingly came on here and had the body exhumed last Sunday, but was much pleased to find that it was not his son.

One thousand tons of railroad iron for the Menominee Range railroad was received at Powers (Sec. 42) this week[.] This will lay about eleven miles of road.

Work is progressing finely on the Menominee Range railroad and the contractors are pushing matters energetically. The different mines along the route are getting things in shape to take advantage of the completion of the road to their several localities. We expect to make a trip in that direction next week and can then say more about it.

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E.P. Parks, Esq. was in town on Friday. He is engaged at present on the new railroad.

The bill making a grant of land in aid of the Menominee Range R'y has passed both branches of the Legislature. Twenty miles of road to be be [sic] completed by Jan. 1st, 1878.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 453 [Saturday, March

24, 1877], page 4, column 1

By a letter just received from a member of the engineering corps on the line of the Menominee Range railway, we learn that work is progressing favorably to the completion of the road to the Quinesaik [sic] mine by the first of August next. The frost is a hindrance rendering it necessary to use blasting powder in loosening the ground in grading. Arrangements were being made to commence work in the Breen and Quinesaik [sic] mines during this week, to put them in shape to produce ore. There is a prospect of considerable work being done the coming summer along the line of this road in the way of prospecting for mineral [sic].

The philanthropist who runs the Marquette Mining Journal, has had his extremely benevolent
sensibilities [sic] shocked and stands aghast at the "wanton inhumanity," of Delta or Menominee counties, in sending a man who was unfortunately very seriously injured on the new railroad, to Marquette for treatment and furthermore thinks it "a rather questionable trick to get rid of a county charge." If the benevolent individual aforesaid had taken pains to inform himself, he might have arrived at the truth of the matter and not have
blundered into making a very serious charge, against the two counties in question.
The facts of the case are these; the man James (not Patrick) Gulley, was very badly injured in a cut by a frozen bank falling upon him, Feb. 16th. A physician from this place was immediately summoned by the contractors, Messrs. Wells & Good rich, to attend to him. He went and did all that could be done for the injured man, with the appliances at hand and at the man's own suggestion he was removed to Escanaba where he could receive more constant attention. Although at the time of the accident, Mr. Gulley had on his person $166.35 (which was counted in the presence of several trustworthy parties,) yet Messrs[.] Wells & Goodrich agreed to pay the bill for board and medical attendance for one month. As the injuries were of a complicated character and the man's system not in very good order, he expressed a desire to be placed in some hospital, where he could receive all the care that was necessary and as he was somewhat acquainted at Ishpeming he wrote and telegraphed to Dr. Bigelow at that place, asking him if he would receive him (Gulley.) [sic] The answer was favorable. His brother Thomas had been with him for some time and stated that if he could get James in the hospital at Ishpeming, he would work in the mines and assist him in paying for nursing and medical attendance. At the time the patient left here he must have had nearly $130. At no time has he been a town ship or county charge, in either this county or Menominee. His going to either Ishpeming or Marquette was of his own free volition. He and his brother had means to pay their way with and Mr. Thomas Gulley designed with a brother's solicitude to labor for more.
In view of these facts it ill becomes a neighboring newspaper to accuse either Menominee or Delta counties of inhumanity and trickery.

About 150 men at work on the Menominee Range railroad struck for higher wages last Tuesday, and after proceeding to "42" met some 60 laborers who had just come in on the train from the south. These gave such an unfavorable account of matters outside, that the most of the men went back to work again at the same wages. They were getting $1.25 a day and were paying $3.50 for board but wished their wages raised to $1.50 a demand which was not complied with.

Camp No. 5 on the new railroad is presided over by Mrs. Hayes; the foreman's name is Mr. Wheeler, so the establishment is dubbed the "White House."

First The Escanaba Tribune and then The Mining Journal began running letters submitted by correspondents working on the Menominee Range Railroad using the pseudonyms Racketty and Wolverine respectively to document the progress being made between "42" and the new iron fields.

It was all a mistake that little tale about our getting run over by a cod fish, for as you may perceive by this letter, the child is yet alive. We have planted ourself [sic] in this place with the intention of studying Railroadology. Chipe [sic] & Co.[,] who have the grading from the Breen mine to the Quinnesec, have about 275 men including sub-contractors. D.L. Wells & Co.[,] who are building the south end, have upwards of 200 men in grade, about one-half of which are on construction train. The company have [sic] also about 100 men on timber bridging and ties. We understand that the track laying on this end will soon be resumed. There is at present about four and one half miles of track down and we believe the remainder will be put down at the rate of about one-half mile per day. Among familiar faces we notice E.R. Parks of Escanaba, also our old time (literary antagonist) Special of Ford River, who is at present with the Engineer corps, and wears the boss pair of stoga boots. Racketty is at present in the hotel business and does all the coarse hand writing. CE.] Lipe & Co. have raised wages from $1.25 to $1.40 per day and board from $3.50 to $4.00 per week. Our Mariar says we must not write any more (soft stuff) and as we believe in a here after we will close by subscribing ourself [sic] as in days or yore.

THE MENOMINEE RANGE RAILROAD. -- We are informed, by parties interested in the matter, that there is probability that this road will be continued this sea son to the Menominee river. This will be done if the parties owning mineral lands on the line of the proposed extension manifest enough interest in the matter to give the company suitable encouragement as to the development of the properties which are known to be rich in mineral. It would be a matter of consider able economy to the company to build the road now on the completion of the pre sent contract, while the men and materials are on the spot, and while wages are low. We trust that the interested parties will arouse themselves on this subject.

MR. EDITOR. -- We have for some time been trying to collect our scattered thoughts, with a view to enlightening you as to the progress of railroad business, and other matters connected with this place, but have just returned from a short stroll, with the conviction that we have not been rewarded in a measure to compensate us for our untiring efforts, for, although the construction of the Menominee Range railroad is being pushed with the usual vigor, yet the general hard times have not changed one particle, and good whisky cannot be procured for less than ten cents per glass. We are a temperance man ourself [sic], but as we take an interest in the welfare of our fellow citizens, it is their sad condition that we consider so deplorable. Several car loads of iron rail are shipped up the road every morning, and everything looks favorable for the completion of the road somewhat sooner than has been anticipated. All that will be lacking to make this place a city at the completion of the road, will be a blast furnace and saloon, but we think the latter-named institution is at present kept on the European plan somewhere in this vicinity. It has been hinted to us that a certain pounder or compounder of medicines hereabouts is selling forty rod, and we would caution the gent, least the broad and untiring hand of Michigan law lays its vice-like grip upon his carcass. We have as yet had no rain in this locality this month, and if the heavens do not soon open and pour upon us their refreshing element, we have little doubt but that the coming season will be a sickly one in this place, as the land surrounding us is composed principally of cedar swamps, and spruce and tamarack bogs.
Mr. J.A.
Crozier, of the Menominee Herald, made us a pleasant call on Tues day last.
In my hurry, I had almost forgot to mention that we have been surrounded by fire for nearly a week and it is still holding on to the dry earth in some parts of surrounding country.
With a special regard to the editor, we remain, as ever.

MR. EDITOR. -- A severe, if not fatal accident occurred on the new line on Saturday of last week. Michael 0. Connell, while working on a cut some three or four miles up the road, was seriously injured by the sudden caving of the bank, which threw him against a car track with such force that his collar bone was broken and his head cut in a frightful manner, besides giving him serious internal injuries.
On Sunday, the 20th, our townspeople were called upon to witness the first wedding on the new line. The contracting parties were Mr. Warren L. Benjamin and Miss Clara M. Essington, both of this place. Rev. N. Green, of Escanaba, was called upon to officiate, and we give him credit for doing the work in good style. Previous to the marriage ceremony, Mr. Green delivered a short but very interesting discourse. The bride and groom tarried until Tuesday, and then left to seek fortune in some more congenial clime. We wish them much happiness in their doubled-up condition.

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The people are on the lookout for Bruin, as he has been of late making very earnest demonstrations of war upon their pig pens.
The new road has up to date seven and one-half miles of rail.
Interesting news being scarce, we will close. Yours, & c.,

SOME 300 men are now employed on the western end of the Menominee range rail way, and the contractors expect to increase this force to 500 shortly. It is expected to have the grade completed to the Quinnesec mine before August 1st, and the proprietors of that mine visited the location last Monday and selected the route for the sidings to tap the openings. Everything is being made in readiness for the shipment of ore as soon as the track is laid.

MR. EDITOR: -- Everything in our surroundings seems of late to have put on a lively appearance. Railroading business is in full bloom, and Messrs. Wells & Co., are now running three construction trains on the new line. Our little village of Powers is beginning to look up rapidly, and if we understand correctly, a post office will soon be established here; this latter-named institution will be a great convenience, as there is considerable amount of mail for this place, daily. Our nearest post office is at Spaulding [sic] Station, distant one mile. The petition to the department calls for Miss Carrie Brooks, as post mistress. The new tank just completed, and which is intended to supply both lines, is an ornament to the road. Morris H. Kelly, Esq., late of Escanaba, presides behind the counter at the fine store of Wells & Co. Mr. Cheney, the general manager of the Breen mine, made us a call a few days since; he reports business very brisk at the Breen. We have been favored with a light fall of rain of late, but not quite enough to satisfy our appetite for moisture. Michael O'Connell, the man who was injured up the line some two weeks since, has returned, and is mending rapidly. Asa Dodge, the old pioneer boot and shoe builder, of Escanaba, is in our village, and has his hands busily employed.

LETTER FROM THE MENOMINEE RANGE MINES: -- The railway is completed to within three miles of the Breen mine; the contractor expects to have it in and consider ably west of that point by the fourth of July. The grading on the western end is approaching completion rapidly, and will be ready for the iron as soon as the con tractor is ready to lay it. The working force has been heavily increased.
At the Breen mine the mining company is ready to ship ore on the first train that arrives there. Their docks and pockets are all completed and partially filled with ore. The docks will hold one thousand tons, and the captain tells me he has things so arranged that he could load and send off three train loads of ore a

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day. They have stripped and left exposed ore enough to employ a large gang of miners all summer to take out, and are still stripping. There has been a new town site laid out and it is called "Waucedah." About half a mile from the mine the company are building a number of quite neat cottages at the Breen location. The railway bridge across the Sturgeon river is nearly completed -- its whole length being nearly 500 feet.
At the Breitung mine things are indeed active, both mining and railroad building; I also ought to say fishing, for finer trout I never saw taken in any part of the country, weighing from one-half up to three pounds. Other fish are equally abundant. But this is digressing. The head-quarters of the three mines
-- the Breen, Breitung and Quinnesec -- are located at the Breitung mine, and it really is a lovely spot, overlooking a beautiful lake. Also at the Breitung they are ready to take out ore; they have a large tract stripped, the ore laying only about from twelve to eighteen inches below the surface; it is of first quality. There is being put into the bed a tunnel one hundred feet long; they also have a stope finished from which they will take ore, and would be ready for shipping, but their dock and pockets are not completed yet. But there is a large force of men at work on them, and everything will be ready as soon as the railroad is ready.
The gentlemen who constitute the company made their first visit the fore part of this week, and expressed themselves as highly pleased and perfectly satisfied with the manner in which everything was conducted, and highly complimented the superintendent for the successful manner in which he had carried out their plans.
The Quinnesec has not been opened, but will be as soon as the railroad is advanced far enough.
The weather is dry and excessively warm, and vegetation is suffering severely. The woods are all on fire, being the second time this season. Mr. Joseph Benton's log shanty was burned yesterday, leaving them all out doors; damages are light compared to the extent of the fire. The fire is abating slightly at this writing.

WOLVERINE

Breitung mine, June 1.

The grading of the railroad is being carried on night and day, showing the intention of the contractors to complete it in the quickest possible time. Large gangs of men are at work.
The captain of the Breen mine and party visited the Breitung last Sunday, going on horseback. They are still stripping there; also stocking it. Their first blast occurred there last week, having struck rock they could not remove without the aid of explosives, as heretofore.
At the Breitung the work on the dock and pockets is being pushed to its utmost capacity, and at the end of every day you can see that big work has been done. This past week there has been found a bed of hard ore beneath the strip ping, surpassing anything on Lake Superior in quality, and the Capt. thinks his mine is going to be the "biggest thing" in the whole country. It far surpasses their most sanguine expectations.
The dock and pockets will be ready to receive ore week after next, when work will be lively. We are anticipating big times for our little place as soon as the railroad is finished.
Weather has been a little chilly the few days past, but warmer now. Gardens are all planted; health of the location good; no rain as yet; we need it very badly.

MR. EDITOR: -- Circumstances will not permit us to write up much of the doings
in this locality the present week. With a cold in our cranium, and corns on our
gunboats, we are severely distressed.
It has been raining almost
incessantly since our last writing, and calked boots are getting quite numerous
here. The saw mill at Spaulding is in full blast, and Mr. Murphy, the
superintendent of said milling business, has caused a new side track to be built
from the main track to the mill, which will greatly improve their facilities for
getting their lumber to the main track, as it has heretofore been conveyed on
wagons, a distance of nearly one-fourth mile.
The work on the new road is
progressing finely, and we understand that more iron will be laid immediately.
Fresh hands for the new road are arriving daily, and the force of Wells &
Co., now exceeds 600 men. On Tuesday of this week, a man named Richard Jones had
his foot crushed in a serious manner by the violent slacking of one of the
construction trains. We would suggest that the engineer fraternity be a little
cautious in the future.
Peter Reegan, a man in the employ of
Wells & Co., had his leg broke by the caving of a bank.
Yours truly, RACKETTY.

P.S. Since writing the above, I have
received intelligence that a man named Dennis McCarthy working on the upper end
of the road, was killed, on the 14th, by
the caving of a bank on the work. R.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 465
[Saturday, June

16, 1877], page 4, columns 2—3

THE
MENOMINEE RANGE.

----

[To the Editor.]

Taking an early start from Menominee, we expected to reach section 34, town 40, range 18, the next night, but in this we were doomed to be disappointed, for. on trying to cross the Menominee river, about one mile below Bad Water village, our horses came very near being drowned, which detained us until the following morning, when we had to finish the remainder of our journey, of some twelve miles on foot. Throughout the Menominee district, in almost every direction, the woods were on fire, and the blackened cinders and ashes could be seen scattered here and there even when the fire was miles away. It must be very discouraging to the lumbermen whose mills are running on short time or are idle for want of the very logs that were then burning in the "roll—ways." Arriving at our destination the first care was to get something to eat, for hunger was too tame a word to express the condition of our empty larders. After having done ample justice to the bounteous repast served by our genial host, Monsieur Tobin, and created in his mind grave doubts of an immediate famine, we began to look around. The location consists of two long buildings and a couple of tents sufficient to accommodate a dozen or more men. The mine owned by the Commonwealth Iron Co., is located on the summit of a broad ridge in the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 34, town 40, range 18, and is about 150 feet above the general level of

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the country in this vicinity. The vein of ore is uncovered from 75 to 100 feet in
the direction of its "strike" and measures across the strike 36 feet. The ore is a first class, fine, steely, specular variety and is very uniform in quality. The elevation of the mine will afford it a natural drainage for a long time after active mining begins. The stripping —- a sandy-loam and sand -- will average at pre sent about nine feet. The cost of opening this mine will be comparatively very small.
At the Quinnesec mine, the present terminus of the Menominee Range railroad, but very little has been done this season. The location consists of
one good log house, besides two or three other larger buildings in the course of construction, intended for hotels. It is the purpose, however, of those interested to soon commence mining operations here.
Following the line of the half finished railroad we come to the Breitung, and are welcomed by our old friend Capt. Jack Armstrong, who takes no little pardon able pride in showing strangers his mine. They are making active preparations here to be ready to ship ore as soon as the railroad is completed thus far. Their de posit of ore is located on the face of a high ridge, and the drainage is good. The ore, a blue hematite, is about identical with the Quinnesec. The formation has nearly an east and west trend and dips to the south. The ore contains just enough magnetic to attract the needle and afford a purplish red powder when pulverized. The bed of ore is quite well defined, and in places measures 50 feet in thickness. They have quite a large amount of ore in sight, and with a little more work can ship fifty or more tons per day. The hanging wall of the vein is a jasper and lean hard ore. It appears probable, that as they mine downwards, they will find more or less of hard specular ore. At present they are driving a tunnel which will inter sect the ore in about seventy feet at a point about fifty feet below the surface. This will give a fine strip of ore, almost at the very start.
Reluctantly bidding our friend a last good—bye, we resumed our tramp along the line to the Breen mine. The grading on the road-bed was much more advanced than west of the Breitung mine. Across the Sturgeon river, the Railroad Co. have nearly completed a very fine wooden bridge, with long high approaches on the east side. The grades are very light, not exceeding 34 feet to the mile, and the curves are not sharper than four degrees. At the Breen we found Captain Schwartz in charge, and even as busy as at the Breitung mine. The showing of ore here is good, and promises well. It is very similar to the Breitung ore, and the formation there dips to the south. It is more than probable that all these mines are on the same range. Mr. Louis Whitehead has charge of the Breen, Breitung and Quinnesec mines, and no doubt will gladly welcome the first train of cars at the Quinnesec, so that his now tedious tramps will be no longer necessary. Some seven to eight miles of track is laid, and the prospect is that the cars will be running to the Breen by the first of August, which will save the "old times" pull through the swamp on the winter supply road. The Breen mine is only 20 feet higher than the track at Spaulding, and the present line of railroad does not vary from an air line at any point more than one thousand feet. C.E.W.
MARQUETTE, June 15th.

TheMining Journal. Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 466 [Saturday, June

23, 1877], page 1, column 5

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. -- The track laying has begun again, after having been delayed some time with a rock cut, and will be laid into the Breen mine at once.
A man by the name of Anthony Dougherty was killed in the R.R. cut above the Breen mine, one day this week. He was smothered to death by the caving in of a bank of sand, burying him about ten feet beneath it. Also an Indian (name not known), had his arm badly cut with an ax in the hands of a companion; it was accidental.

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Page 16

The Breen mine has stripping 150 feet in length, and from 30 feet to 75 feet in breadth. They are constantly uncovering more ore.
Capt. Schwartz has just returned to the Breen, bringing his family with him.
Capt. Armstrong, of the Breitung mine, has lately moved his family into the district; it is a big undertaking for a lady; the mode of conveying into the mine is quite of the backwoods order. The stripping is still going on and the ore is abundant. Superintendent Whitehead is making every effort to have docks and pockets ready to receive ore by the time the cars are ready to run to the mine, and judging from the way the work is being pushed, they will be completed in due time.
The weather so far this month has been quite moist. Last night, June 15, there was a heavy shower of rain and hail, accompanied with severe lightning and thunder, and also a fierce wind. This continuous rain retards work on the R.R. and in the mines, but the lumber men are happy. They tell me they will be able to clear all the streams of lumber, which is a god send to the mill men at the mouth of the Menominee river.
The location of a postoffice at Waucedah has been delayed until after the R.R. is completed. It would be a difficult matter to furnish mail there with the present facilities.
They are crowding the ore onto the docks at the Breen, as the road is being pushed rapidly to that point. The rock cut that has delayed them so long is finally finished.
The Quinnesec mine is being surveyed with a view to ascertain the best point for opening it.

SPAULDING, June 16, 1877.
WOLVERINE.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 467 [Saturday, June

30, 1877], page 1, columns 4—5

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. -- The weather was quite cold the latter part of last week, but this week opens very warm and pleasant, and there are indications of rain.
Last Tuesday, the 19th of June, was pay day at the Breen and Breitung mines, and the railroad men got their pay a day or two before. There was quite a loud old time, and had there been a saloon here things would have been pretty generally stirred up.
The tunnel at the Breitung was finished on the 22d, striking a fine bed of ore. The tunnel is 75 feet long.
A Frenchman by the name of Felix Suprise [sic], who was working on the rail road about five miles east of the Breitung mine, while peeling cedar bark on the morning of the 20th to cover a shanty, cut a fearful gash in his arm just above the elbow. He was carrying his ax on his shoulder through thick underbrush, his toe caught and he fell, and the ax slipped down on his arm, and it being very sharp nothing but the bone of the arm stopped it. Dr. Belknap, the mining surgeon, sewed the wound together and otherwise dressed it, and sent him home to Wisconsin.
A man working at the Breitung mine cut his hand quite severely with an ax, which will lay him up for a few days. His name is Lego [Legault].
We recently received a visit from Mr. Conrad, of Saginaw mine fame. He is looking after some iron land interests about twenty miles west of this location.
The Railroad store, belonging to parties from Chicago, has been sold to other parties from Chicago, and is going to be moved toward the western terminus of the road.
The docks and pockets at the Breitung are finished, and they will begin to shove ore into them at once with the full force.
It is rumored that the track will be completed to the Breen this week.

After a lapse of two weeks we proceed to enlighten you with the news of the week. On Friday last, Joseph Goetz, a laborer in the employ of Wells & Co., was somewhat injured by the falling of a bank on the new road; he was taken to camp No. 1, and Dr. Fortier, of Menominee, was summoned, who pronounced the man out of danger. Goetz was sent to his home near Green Bay, the following Sunday. The iron is laid within a short distance of the Breen mine, on the new line.
Sheriff Ruprecht, of Menominee county, was in this place a few days since hunting illicit liquor dealers; they say that Joe had fifty dollars for the per son that would point out the guilty parties, but it appears that his labors were not crowned with success.
The glorious 4th passed by us with nothing in the way of excitement except some six or half dozen exhibitions of fistic exercise, after which the wounded were, with few exceptions, carried off the field dead -- i.e. dead drunk —- and, indeed, your humble correspondent, Racketty, had instruments of various makes (principally Old Rye seven shooters), placed in unpleasant proximity to his smeller, but as he has long since shook the gang, he of course retreated in good order.
One of the enthusiastic citizens succeeded in getting away with a pint of kerosene oil, property of Mr. Duncan McMillan; we would propose that he now proceed to light himself.
As our time is short, and confusion great, we will proceed to stop.

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. -- A great many of the workmen in the mines and on the railroad are going away to spend the fourth of July; there will a few stay and work. The cars run very close to the Breen mine now, within a mile and a half, and they will be detained there about two weeks on account of a cut through a hill not being finished; their men left them, so they had to stop work, or it would have been all ready for the iron. The boarding camps all along the western division will be moved up in a few days, the bed of the road being so nearly finished up to the western terminus. Ore is being rushed on to the docks and into the pockets at both the Breitung and Breen mines at a rapid rate. The ore that comes out of the tunnel at the Breitung mine is very fine, entirely unmixed with rock of any description. The ore at the Breen is about the same quality, but is not as convenient for mining as it is on the lower ground. The company will probably put in a large stock of general merchandise at the Breitung to supply all their miners as soon as the railroad men move out of their store.
The boys bring in beautiful strings of trout every day; the opportunities for catching them are as fine as I ever saw, and not far off, either. There is a little lake a few rods from the location at the Breitung, which is filled with all kinds of fish that usually inhabit such lakes. The shooting this fall is going to be first—class.
No births, deaths or marriages.
WOLVERINE.

MR. EDITOR. -- The glorious Fourth has come and gone, the jug has been buried, and once more peace and quietude reign supreme in 42. You may think the above expression wholly uncalled for, but had you been at this place on the Fourth, you would have remarked without hesitation, "Why is this thus?" Last Wednesday, that glorious one hundred and first anniversary of our national independence, when every loyal citizen of this enlightened country should have been offering a tribute of respect to the star spangled banner, the boys at 42 were whooping it up lively. The day was occupied in the usual manner, and in the evening a fair display of fire works, together with the firing of an anvil, and a genuine dynamite explosion, after which the people were addressed by Mr. J. Ronan, of this place, who made some very appropriate remarks. He was followed by Hon. Garry Forrest, who hails from the south of Ireland, and is recruiting his health in this place.
The post office at Powers of which we made mention in a previous number, has been decided on, and Miss Carrie Roberts of this place has been appointed post mistress, with the necessary bonds signed and approved; this will be a great convenience to the citizens of this place.
Two gentlemen from Negaunee, were in this village last week, who stated their intention of building a drug store at the Breen mine.
John Skogel, an employee with Wells & Co., was run over by one of the construction trains, and almost instantly killed, on Tuesday of this week. It appears that Skogel attempted to jump off the cars, while in motion, and struck against some obstruction, which threw him under the train. The deceased is of Swedish origin, and has a brother lying ill at Menominee.
The Breen mine can now be reached by rail from this place.

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. —— The fourth of July passed off very quietly. On the east end of the road the men all laid off and had a general spree, also the men at the Breen mine did not work, but every thing was quiet; they indulged in a picnic which was a very pleasant affair.
We can say now that the rail-road is at the Breen, a thing which has been looked for with a great deal of anxiety, and the grading is nearly completed between there and the Sturgeon river, so they can push the iron laying right ahead if they choose to; but instead of that I think they will make that headquarters for a time and ballast up what they have laid, as the bridge across the Sturgeon river will delay them some time.
The fourth at the Breitung mine was spent by the men working as usual, also on the railroad the same; but in the evening there was a large bonfire and a small show of fireworks, and the stars and stripes were flung to the breeze for the first time in this part of the country, creating a great deal of excitement in consequence, and the firing of guns and singing of national airs.
One of the bosses on the railroad, Mr. Chapman was his name, I believe, had his shoulder dislocated while on duty. It was soon adjusted by Dr. Belknap, the mining surgeon, and he is doing well at present.
They have got to increase their pocket capacity for ore at the mines, espe-

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Page 19

cially at the Breitung, where they are taking out now one hundred tons Per [sic]
day, and as soon as they increase their force, which they are going to do soon, the amount of ore taken out will be increased proportionately.
Buildings are beginning to go up pretty fast now, but they can't complete them for the want of lumber for which they have to wait from below, by railroad. Not having lumber has put us back here in building very much, but the cars being at the Breen they can haul it on wagons.
Supt. Whitehead is expecting a number of gentlemen who constitute the company here to-day, and he is going to the Breen with horses and saddles to show them the way in, that being our only means of getting over unless we foot it.

MR. EDITOR. -- The present week being pay week on the road has been one of unusual excitement in this place. The latest excitement is a stabbing affray between two natives of Poland, the same taking place at camp 4 on the new road. One of the parties received a severe knife cut on the right side, almost directly under the armpit; he was sent to camp and his wound dressed, and is now in fair shape to recover. The perpetrator of this foul deed has since escaped. The name of the injured man is Joe Blitskie, and it is said the deed was done without pro vocation on his part. Work on the new road is still rushing. Our new postoffice is doing a fair business under the supervision of postmistress Brooks. And now we are beginning to feel like a business community.

Yours, & c.

RACKETTY.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 471 [Saturday, July

28,1877], page 8, column 1

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. -- They are making extensive improvements at the Breen now, since the cars have brought them lumber; their houses are rapidly approaching completion, and it looks really like a town. The docks are being largely added to, and Supt. Whitehead has just given them a plan of pockets to build, which everyone thinks surpasses in strength any they ever saw.
Railroad iron has given out, and has caused a cessation in track laying, which is probably just as well, as the bridge over the Sturgeon river is yet un finished, and there is about a week's grading before they can get to the river; but all on the west side of the stream is ready for the iron up to three miles west of the Breitung, and the workmen have all moved to the western end, and will have that part all ready for the iron long before they are ready to lay it.
Captain Armstrong has made extensive additions to his ore dock at the Breitung so that its capacity for holding ore, including the pockets, is several thou sand tons. The ore continues just as fine as at first. The captain is going to increase the facilities for working by putting in two or three more stopes. Also, after a while, he will run in another tunnel to strike the bed of ore farther east, giving him a very extensive face to work upon.
There is just north of the mine a beautiful ledge of Potsdam sandstone, which

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Page 20

comes out in large blocks, and some time may richly pay for quarrying. It makes a fine, rich building stone.
Dr. N.P. Hulst, of Milwaukee, has been here for some time, making preparations to strip the Quinnesec mine. He is home now, but will be back soon and commence the work of stripping. I understand it's a very extensive piece of work, requiring a great deal of energy and perseverance, of all [sic - all of] which the doctor possesses a great abundance. No exciting news from this quarter this week.

WOLVERINE.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 472 [Saturday, August

4, 1877], page 8, column 1

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. -- The spur at the Breen mine is finally laid, so now as soon as the balance of the road is in condition they will begin to ship ore. All supplies come up as far as the Breen, and passengers can ride up if they are at the depot when the train leaves every morning; but there are no regular trains on the road as yet, and probably will not be until the work is accepted by the engineers. The eastern end is in very fine condition, even better than the old road. The new houses at the Breen are now about completed; one or two of them are receiving their occupants, and a more tasty [sic - tasteful], convenient and well-constructed house I never saw put up by any company. They are first-class in every particular, with nice front yards and large roomy garden spots in the rear; Supt. Whitehead has not left a thing undone that should be done to make them perfect in comfort and convenience.
Mr. Hagerman, president of the company, from Milwaukee, and A.C. Brown, one of the stockholders, were here last week and expressed themselves highly delighted with the manner in which everything was being carried on; also with the future prospects of the mine. They are both gentlemen who are glad to see their employes comfortable and doing well. They visited all three of the mines, but in consequence of the railroad difficulties outside they hastened home. Their intention was to spend a number of days up here. They selected a town site while here, and, I believe, settled on "Vulcan" as the name of both town and mine, and work is to begin at once on the new town site. Chopping and clearing off, preparatory to building the town, has already begun. It will overlook the lake, and will be much nearer the mine than the present location.
They are going to commence work at the Quinnesec at once. Dr. N.P. Hulst, of Milwaukee, who is also a stockholder, will be in charge of operations.
The weather still continues excessively warm with now and then a shower, but that don't [sic] seem to cool the atmosphere altogether.
A child belonging to Mr. Thos. Rice, of the New York farm, was severely burned last Saturday about the neck and shoulders. I believe the doctor thinks the child will recover.
No news of startling character; all quiet on the Menominee.

We have of late been taking a short holiday in the iron district, and although we do not feel exactly competent to give a fair description of what we beheld on

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our tramp, still we will endeavor to do justice to the country surrounding us.
Your correspondent started on the 6 A.M. construction train and arrived at the Breen mines[,] a distance of about 13 miles, at 7 o'clock and thence on foot to headquarters of C. Lipe & Co., about 6 miles further up the grade.
We did not tarry long here, learning that there was a heap of brook trout to be had for the catching, in Pine Creek, we went and did considerable fishing, but no catching before sunset. As we, like veteran sportsmen[,] took no grub along, we dined on wood buck and wild pigeon, and after a night of warfare with gnats and mosquitos, retraced our steps to the Breitung. This mine is located in a beautiful spot, and from what we saw of it, appeared to be doing a smashing business.
After leaving the mine, we proceeded to take in Lake Hamburg [sic - Hanbury], situate[d] about one quarter of a mile from the mine. This little lake is a marvel of beauty, being about one mile long and one—half mile wide, having no visible outlet. It is perfectly alive with large bass and pickerel, which can be seen at a depth of 30 feet, in its transparent waters. On the opposite shore from the mine and railroad grade, are huge boulders of rock which rise some 45 or 50 feet above the level of the water; these rocks are seemingly one compact mass, but are of various colors. On a close examination of this country, we observed a quarry, or bed, of splendid American marble, and another of variegated slate, either of which would pay some enterprising man to examine.
The work on the railroad is still on the move, and without doubt but little time will be taken to complete the same. The bridge over the Sturgeon river, is seemingly a grand affair, and we opine that it will eclipse anything of its kind, on the C. & N.W. R'y, between Marquette and Chicago.
On Saturday of last week a man named Larson was run over by one of the construction trains, and had his knees badly crushed. The accident was caused by the man's carelessness in jumping from the train while under motion. We report weather in this part, very fine.

The probability now is, that the Menominee Range Railroad will be extended twenty miles further west. The deposits of iron seem to be full as good on the other side of the Menominee river, as on this, and in the case of the Commonwealth mine, it is supposed to be better.

A singular fact is noticeable along the line of the C. & N.W. R'y. Where the original pine, cedar and hemlock forest has been burned off, the ground is now covered with a dense growth of poplar. The question is, where does the seed come from? If this transformation of the pine districts keep [sic] on, it will not be long before an evergreen tree will become a rarity in sections that was [sic] previously covered with them. In our own locality, tracts of burnt pine lands are growing up with oak, poplar, and similar trees.

It is proposed to call the new paper to be started at Quinnesec, "The Iron Center." That name will be very appropriate, as the town will be about in the center of the iron ranges, on both sides of the river. Should everything prove as favorable as is anticipated on the range, Quinnesec must from its proximity to the magnificent water powers close by, make in the future a manufacturing town of importance. The diversified natural resources in the vicinity will induce the establishment of manufactories other than iron.

The first train of iron ore from the
Breen mine on the Menominee Range, arrived here Aug. 17th, since then one train
a day has been sent in- The Schr. Our Son, took the first vessel load, consigned
to Andrew Hitchcock & Co., Cleveland. This ore is to be thoroughly tested
there and we think the yield of iron will be equal to expectations. Other iron
mines will follow as the road is extended and the prospect is, that the small
stream which has commenced to pour in from that range, w111 be increased
indefinitely. As Escanaba is the only outlet by water, for the ore of this
mineral district, it is very likely that this port will soon regain her former
prestige and a few years of business, is bound to produce a marked change in our
surroundings.

OUR
CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE MENOMINEE RANGE RAILWAY.

POWERS, MICH.
Aug. 22, 1877.

Notwithstanding the drawbacks of the
outside world and the pullbacks of its feminine citizens, our little hamlet is
lively beyond imagination, and the daily arrival of ore shipments from the Breen
mine serve to heighten our enthusiasm.
One of the engines (No. 83,) working on the construction, was considerably used
up by being thrown off the track above the Breen mine, on Saturday last; she was
towed into Escanaba, and another engine (No[.] 135,) brought to replace the
damaged one.
The saw mill at Spalding has
suspended operations, owing to the low water and scarcity of logs.
The directors of the C. & N.W.
R'y took a trip up the new road on Tuesday last.
Our surroundings were visited by a
copious fall of rain Tuesday night.

RACKETTY.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number 475 [Saturday,
August

25, 187?], page 4, column 2

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. —— At the Breen mine it is beginning to look more
like heavy work, as they have just finished putting up an immense derrick with
which they can lower and raise a loaded car and place it on the track for
transportation. New houses are being finished and occupied by new families.
Everything is already [sic] far shipping ore as soon as the railroad company
will receive it. The side track and loops are all finished.
There were several car loads of iron
pushed upon the Breen mine side track the other day, preparatory to laying track
again. There are about fifteen miles of road bed finished for the iron now, and
all will be done in a month, probably.
A man by the name of Barney Collum
was killed in one of the cuts the other night by a stump rolling upon him.
Everything looks very prosperous at the Breitung. To-day is pay day at both
mines. The men receive their pay and go at once to work, showing that they appreciate the idea of laying up their wages these hard times.
The weather continues very warm with
an occasional shower of rain. There is a general good state of health.
A great many deer are making their
appearance in this locality, which will make fine sport for sportsmen.

WOLVERINE.

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LATER -- The shipping of ore began at the Breen on the 16th, when Capt. Schwartz
had seventeen cars loaded, 50 cars on the 18th, and 50 cars on the 20th.
Mr. john R. Wood, of Ishpeming, paid us a visit to—day; he is on his way to
the Commonwealth mine.
Scarcely a day passes without a great number of men passing up the line; most of
them are after work, but some are looking for a place to locate in business.
Such are the men we want. They are still laying iron, and it will be but a short
time before the track will reach the Breitung. Supt. Whitehead is pushing the
work at the Breitung mine very energetically, as well as at the Breen, and both
mines look very promising. Improvements at both localities are constantly being
made, and each place begins to look quite town like.
A great many hunters are coming in now, mostly from Chicago, and game is plenty
[sic — plentiful].
Mr. A.C. Brown brought a party of ladies with him the other day over the wagon
road. They were nieces of his and his daughter. They expressed themselves highly
delighted with the trip. We were glad to see them -- wish some more would come.

The new town of Powers is lively as usual, and everybody seems to be busy. We
noticed quite a number of signs of those necessary adjuncts of civilization
—— saloons, -- scattered all through the place, since our last visit, and
are told that about pay day, they sometimes produce scenes that are altogether
too lively. The churches and schoolhouses that are to be, have not yet appeared.
The store of D.L. Wells & Co., is doing an active business, and the clerks
are kept busy all day, and seemingly part of the night. Mr. S.H. Selden, chief
engineer, and his corps, are actively engaged on the railroad work, and judging
from appearances, have not much idle time on their hands.
The main boarding house for the men, -- camp one, -- is kept by Mr. Essington.
He has now about 80 men, although the number is sometimes increased to more than
100. The bill of fare is excellent, and from the way in which the viands
disappear at each meal, is unquestionably relished by the men. Viewed as a
first— class watering place, the accommodations would not be considered
tiptop, but for a hungry man just out of the woods, the cuisine, superintended
by Mr. E., and his estimable lady, are just the thing.
We had some little opportunity of examining some of the farming land in the
vicinity, and were very much pleased with the quality of the soil, and growth of
the timber. Of course, from the newness of the country, it is impossible that
the soil could have been thoroughly tested, but wherever farms have been made
along the line of the supply roads to the various lumber camps, the result has
been at tended with gratifying results. -- Three and a half miles from here, Mr.
Barney Bromsted has a young farm that he purchased three years ago from one of
the lumbering firms. At that time, some 15 acres had been cleared. This year he
will raise from 60 acres now in cultivation, a surplus above his own
requirements, of about $1200. His crops consist principally of oats, potatoes,
buckwheat, hay, and turnips. He is well satisfied, and says that any year he
cannot clear $1000 from his place, he will sell it. The work is done principally
by himself, besides a good deal of labor thrown in on the road. There is an
immense quantity of land just as good as Mr. Bromsted's around here, waiting for
the settler to come and make him-

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self independent in a few years.
At the newly-fledged town of Waucedah, we found everything lively, and the
citizens jubilant and enthusiastic over their prospects. Several new buildings
are going up, in addition to those already built. The Breen mine is now shipping
ore regularly, and enlarged and extended their operations lately. They have
erected a large derrick, and now handle the ore with more ease. Explorations for
ore are to be commenced immediately east of the present mine location. The indications are good, and it is quite likely that the same formation extends in that
direction. The chain of the Hamilton Lakes in the vicinity are beautiful little
sheets of water, and as they with the connecting streams of water are generally
filled with the finny tribe, they are becoming favorite resorts for those piscatorily inclined. Mr. Selden's family are enjoying here a pleasant season of camping out.
The Breitung mine is opening splendidly under the superintendency of Capt.
Whitehead. This mine is located in a hill which rises up between two and three
hundred feet, in the highest part. The arrangements for handling the ore are excellent, and when all the plans are completed, it can be worked very
economically. The ore is a dark blue hematite and the best will yield somewhere
in the neighbor hood of 65 per cent of iron. A tunnel 75 feet in length has been
driven into the face of the hill, to the vein on the second level, which will be
about 50 feet above the railroad track, exposing a 75 feet [sic — foot] face
of ore. At present a series of pockets will receive it, when finished, and from
them it will be run into cars alongside. Just now they are dumping in stock
piles, and have on hand 2500 tons of first-class, and 1000 tons of
second—class ore. Several hewed log buildings are going up for the
accommodation of the men. This mine is beautifully located. At a distance of
less than a quarter of a mile, directly in front, is Lake Hamburg [sic—
Hanbury], -— a most beautiful little sheet of water, about a mile in length
and a quarter of a mile in width. The formation of the lake is some what
singular. On the north side the ground gradually comes down to the edge, and for
a distance of perhaps 200 feet the water is quite shallow, and the bottom covered with clear white sand. It then commences to deepen very fast until the
south shore is reached, where the rocks rise abruptly, in some places 50 feet
high, and a hill behind, probably rising fully as much more. The strata, which
seem to be of a ferruginous character, are tilted up from the lake at an angle
of about 45 degrees. The water is very deep and clear, and in some spots the
rocks descend almost into it, to a great depth. The deepest part is about 100
feet. The fishing is reported to be excellent. As a brisk northwest wind was
blowing at the time we were there, we did not have an opportunity of
substantiating the assertion. It is certainly a gem of a lakelet, and is
admirably framed by the rising hills around it, all trim med with the green of
the virgin forests of pine and other woods, and must eventually add much to the
pleasure of the dwellers of the future town. At the mine we met Mr. Win. Ross,
who was formerly in the railroad company's store in this town. Mr. E.P. Shine,
reporter for the Detroit Free Press, is also rusticating there.
The railroad track is completed to Sturgeon River, about two miles this side of
the Breitung mine, and the grading and bridges are almost finished as far as
Quinnesec.

OUR CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE MENOMINEE RANGE RAILWAY.

POWERS,
MICH.

Aug. 28, 1877.

Did you ever shake hands with the pick or the spade,
And work on the muddy railroad grade;
If not, take a trip to the Menominee Range,
And you will soon undergo a remarkable change[.]

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You must pull off your fancy tie, collar and shirt,
And make up your mind to go shoveling dirt;
You're sure of a job, and you'll get all your pay,
Which sums up in full, ten shillings per day;
And this we call good, considering the times,
For 'tis hard nowadays to turn up the dimes.

At Powers Junction begins the new line,
Which extends to a point called the Quinnesec mine.
Along the route are several prominent stations,
Populated by representatives from most all the nations;
But suffice to say, they're a fine lot of men,
To describe all their merits would wear out our pen.
One thing of importance we forgot to mention,
Which we're sure will attract your people's attention;
'Tis the deer, and other desirable game,
Of every describable nature and name,
And although quite a secret, we must let you know,
That the streams which through our forests so gradually flow,
Are filled with the angler's delight i.e. the brook trout,
Which would sharpen your appetite without any doubt[.]
So clean up your gun, and collar your devil
Also your fishing rod, fly hook, and swivel,
And make me a visit, it won't hurt you a particle,
And we'll be well paid for writing this article.

THE MENOMINEE RANGE. -- The railroad will be completed to the
Breitung mine in about two weeks, if no serious delays occur. The bridge over
the Sturgeon river is nearly finished, and the grading is progressing steadily.
The shipments from the Breen mine to this date comprise 200 cars, or about 1,200
tons -- not quite half the ore which had previously been mined. Outsiders
visiting us, particularly those acquainted with iron ores, are quite agreeably
surprised to find the Menominee range ores so rich and pure. Experts pronounce
them equal to any of the same class of ores found in the Marquette district.
At the Breitung work is progressing favorably, though operations have been
somewhat retarded by the delay in laying the railroad track to this point.
Still, the men find enough to do in building and finishing houses for the
winter, and it is confidently expected that the road will be finished in time to
ship all the ore contracted for this season's delivery. It is doubtful, however,
if shipments will be made through the winter by rail to the Wisconsin furnaces,
though there has been considerable talk to that effect.
A laughable occurrence took place here the other morning. Our gentlemanly clerk
"went out a hunting" for deer, and was not long in coming upon a large
herd. Singling out one of them, he banged away, and put eighteen buckshot into
its neck, which was broken. Fearing it was not dead, and that it might start up
and get away, he drew his revolver and put six pistol balls into his head, when,
not with standing it did not stir, he ran up and, clubbing his gun, beat it over
the head until he was fully satisfied it was quite dead -- though he did not
come to that conclusion until he had broken his gun. He then came home and
reported, and sent out some men to bring his trophy into camp. We all agreed
that he couldn't have killed that deer any deader if he's had a whole pack of
artillery along with him.

The business prowess of our little village is evidently on the decline. The
contractors (Wells & Co.,) are moving their forces up the line, and
undoubtedly the future rush of business will follow the laboring class. It is
impossible to say where your correspondent will locate at, but without doubt,
will turn up in some remote part of the country at no far distant day, but as
(this is thus,) we cannot stand the monotony of a dead location. In speaking of
Powers, we must give the place its just dues, and we are confident that as a
farming country, it cannot be excelled on the upper peninsula. Of course some of
your readers may think the above assertion a little loud, but as we are not
financially interested, we are ready to substantiate our remark at any time,
provided some of your readers will take the trouble to call on us. Mr. Bromsted is at present unearthing potatoes at a rapid rate, and we are in receipt of some
of the vegetable product of his farm, which defy competition, unless the farmer
locates in his vicinity.
That delicacy, called venison, has been suffering greatly in this vicinity,
within a few weeks past, and the various hunters along the line are now
disposing of venison saddles at 4c per pound, and throw in the hide at that. A
genuine black tail deer was shot eight miles up the line, one day last week.
This, we believe, is the first of this species ever captured on the upper
peninsula. How he ever got so far north, will probably forever remain a mystery.
The rail on the new road is laid to the Breitung mine, and just now those who
admire scenery sublime, are to be accommodated without the difficulties
attending the weary pedestrian.

We learn that work has been commenced at the Quinnesalk [sic] mine, a con
tract having been let to a Milwaukee party. It is the intention to ship a cargo
of the ore before the close of the season. The grading of the west end of the
railroad has been completed, and the track will be laid into the mine before
many days.

AN interest in 3,000 acres of well selected iron lands, in the Menominee
Range, and adjacent to mines now being opened, for sale at a bargain. For
further information apply to or address the editor of the MINING JOURNAL.

MAJ. T.B. BROOKS and Prof. Pumpelly have returned from their examination of the
Menominee Range, and speak highly of its prospects. They say the Commonwealth
mine, on the Wisconsin side of the river, gives promise of ultimately becoming
one of the best mines in the country, the deposit being apparently very large
and the ore of the best quality.

THE Menominee Herald says that the prospect for the extension of the
railroad to the Commonwealth mine in Wisconsin, is every day growing brighter. If
the de posit of ore is nearly as extensive as reported, and we see no
reason to doubt its being so, the building of a railroad to it will be a
question of short time only.
The same paper records the fact that an order has been received for 4,000 tons
more of the Breen ore, from the same parties to whom the first shipment were
[sic] made. This is the best evidence that could be had of the good quality of
the ore, unless it turns out that it is being sold at figures below the market
rates -- which is very often done by parties trying to introduce a new ore,
however unexceptionable its quality.

----

MENOMINEE RANGE. -- Our correspondent writes us that the iron is laid to with
in two miles of the Quinnesec mine. A report received from the furnace owners
who took the first cargoes of Breen ore is very satisfactory, the more
especially as it was accompanied by an order for all the ore of the same kind
that can be mined and shipped the present season. As a consequence the mine
force has been increased, and from twenty-five to thirty cars are being
shipped daily.
The name of the Breitung mine has been changed to Vulcan, which will also be
the name of the new post-office, which has been applied for. The spur at the
Vulcan is being pushed vigorously, the company being desirous of shipping all
the ore possible before the close of navigation.
A big show is being made at the Quinnesec, and mining will soon begin, in
order to have a cargo ready by the time the road is finished to the mine.

THE above profile will show something of the
direction of the railroad,
through what is called the Menominee Iron Range, from Escanaba, the port of of
[sic] outlet, westwardly across the Menominee river, to the Common wealth
mine, in the the [sic] State of Wisconsin. The stars indicate the mines
that are at present opened along the line. There are other deposits the future
value of which time will develop. At present the railroad is only finished as
far as the Quinnesec mine, but the probability is that it will be completed as far as the Common wealth next season. It will be observed that the
line runs nearly due west almost to the river, and from there

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diverges in a northwesterly direction, to the farthest mine. As mineral deposits
do not terminate there, this road may be extended indefinitely still further
west, at no very distant day. At the junction at Powers this mineral range has a
communication by the C. & N.W. R'y, with the towns at the mouth of the
Menominee River and with the cities farther south. As the iron trade revives
and the demand for ore increases, the output from this range by way of Escanaba
must be enormous, emphatically entitling it to the name of the Iron Port.

THE contractors of the Menominee River Railroad, Messrs. D.L. WELLS
& Co., are, according to the terms of their contract, to have it completed
by the 1st of November next. They are using every exertion to finish their
contract by the specified time and have lately made large additions to their
working force in order to do so. Ground for the side track and depot, has been
laid out at the town of Waucedah, where the Breen mine is located. The side
track will also soon be laid at Vulcan, near the Vulcan mine. Ground has already
been selected at Quinnesec for the round-house, and, as soon as contractors turn
the road over to the company, its erection will be commenced. Rumor has it that
the extension to the Commonwealth will be commenced this fall, but so far
nothing has been definitely determined in regard to the matter; although we
should not be surprised if such was the case.

TheMining Journal, Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan, Number
484 [Saturday, October

27, 1877], page 4, column 1

WE learn from the Menominee Herald that the iron was laid on the
bridge across the river, near the Quinnesec mine, last Monday, and that trains
are now running through to the end of the track.

Powers. -- 'RACKETTY' wrote us on the 30th, as follows:
J.M. ESSINGTON, of this place, shot on Saturday last, a buck which weighed, when
dressed, three hundred pounds.
Several of the Menominee River lumber companies are sending men to the woods, by
the new road, almost daily.
The completion of the new R.R. line, commencing at this place is near at hand
and the contractors have put on an extra force, which will no doubt end
operations by Nov. 5th.
Several Chicago gents are hunting in this locality and, from the noise which

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they make while tramping through the brush, we should judge that they were more
accustomed to the Nicholson pavement, of Chicago, than the haunts of the deer in
northern Michigan.
P.C. MURPHY, the gentlemanly conductor who had the misfortune to lose one of his
legs on the new road, some time since, was removed to Escanaba on Saturday last.
The best wishes of the citizens of this place are with him; and we sincerely
hope that the day is not far distant, when he will fully recover the physical
strength of by-gone days.
We imagine that the day is not far distant when "Racketty's" little
contributions to the IRON PORT will come from the head waters of the Sturgeon
River, as we are contemplating a month's sojourn in that direction ere long. We
will notify ye Editor in due time, that he may enlarge his paper; for it is our
intention to write up about sixteen feet of nonsense, every week or two at
least. But we would have it distinctly understood that we are not going to try
to immortalize our name; as that idea has proved a failure with too many of our
calibre during the past two or three years.

MENOMINEE RANGE ITEMS. -- The iron has finally been laid as far as the Quinnesec, and trains running through on time. Shipments from the mine will soon be
commenced.
Shipments from the Breen mine average fifteen to twenty-five cars per day.
Shipments from the Vulcan mine will be commenced about Monday next, and will
consist of nearly a hundred cars per day. The ore on the docks -- about 5,000
tons -- has all been sold, and a market for as much more secured.
The spur was finished Friday last. The dwellings and other buildings are nearly
all completed, and everything arranged for the winter's campaign.

A TRIP TO THE MENOMINEE RANGE. —- Having just returned from a trip to
the Menominee iron range, I herewith enclose you a brief outline of my
experience in that important, but yet undeveloped region. Arriving at Forty-Two,
or "Powers," as it is now called, I found everything in a flourishing
condition. The place is laid out for a town, but the only buildings there as yet
are a post—office and several boarding houses. The boarding houses are all
full to overflowing. Leaving there next morning, I arrived at the Quinnesec
during a heavy rain. At this place four buildings are going up, and are so much
needed that they are being filled with merchandise while yet in an unfinished
state. While here I called on John McKenna, of course, who is running a drug
store at this place. John seems to be doing well, and is glad to see a Lake
Superior man at any time. I then went over to Dickey Brothers' place, which is a
mile and a half distant. The Dickey Brothers have kept an Indian trading post at
this place for the last six years, and while there I examined some most
magnificent furs procured from Indians and trappers. The next place I arrived at
was on a section of the Menominee river called Bad Water, 10 miles from the
Quinnesec mine. Here, in company with Mr. Keyser, of Menasha, Wis., I stopped
over night at the house of a man named Miller, and in justice to Mr. Miller,
must say that he keeps one of the best and neatest houses in the state of
Michigan. I crossed the river at 7 o'clock next morning, (Sunday), on my way to
the Commonwealth mine. I arrived there at 11 o'clock a.m. and found my way to
the house of John Tobin. I found Tobin home, and took dinner with him, after
which we sat down together and had a smoke. After taking a short rest we started
for the mine, which is half a mile distant from Tobin's house.

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There I found a stripping or opening of a vein of blue steel ore 162 feet wide,
and 25 feet deep as far as developed. The Commonwealth company has a range of
four miles from east to west on the line of this vein, with several test pits a
mile and a half distant, showing in places a good sample of magnetic ore. From
my limited experience I should judge by the looks of this mine that it is an immensely rich find, and will some time turn out to be a sort of bonanza to the
owners. While at this mine I was the recipient of many kind favors from Mr. To-
bin, to whose courtesy and kindness every visitor in this region will testify.
The Quinnesec mine is doing a large amount of work, and are preparing for extensive mining operations next spring. At the Breen mine they are taking out from
10 to 15 car loads of ore per day. The captain says that as soon as they get
their shaft in good working order, he calculates to ship 120 cars of ore per
day.

The Breitung mine, on the Menominee range, made its first shipment of
ore Friday of last week. It was consigned to the Bangor furnace.

The iron region of Menominee is now coming into quite prominent notice, and
will, ere another six months, be a prominent iron mining eldorado. It has been
quite thoroughly explored as a whole, and is known to be rich in mineral wealth,
while there are now several valuable mines in course of development and
operation. Since the partial completion of the Menominee Range railroad,
capitalists interested in the region have renewed their grip, and everything
now looks favorable to wards a complete development of the new region.

IT will be seen by our tables that up to the 14th inst. there had been shipped from the Breen and Vulcan mines, in the Menominee range, about 7,000 tons of
ore, which is a good showing, considering the short time these mines have been
supplied with transportation facilities. All our advices from that region are of
the most encouraging character, and it now looks as if the mines being opened
will be able to supply all the soft ores there is likely to be any demand for
next year. The Menominee hematites are exceedingly rich in metallic iron, and
all that is now needed to give that region great prominence is the discovery of
hard ore of merchantable quality and in proportionate quantity.

ESCANABA. -- The following table shows the ore shipments from Escanaba up
to and including Wednesday, November 14th:
Vulcan................................................1,868
Breen.................................................4,992

The following well considered article from the Menominee Herald
commends itself to the attention of those who are interested in the development
of the new iron fields of the Menominee range. While there can be no objection
to the extension of the line to the Commonwealth, or any other new mine, it
cannot be expected that any part of the grant of swamp lands shall be applied to
the building of a line which shall not have for its main object the development
of mineral

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interests within our own state. Let the line be run to the
Menominee river, asthe Herald suggests, through the iron belt west of the Quinnesec, and the
object of the grant will have been at least partially attained. Any attempt to
divert it from such a course should meet with the united and persistent
opposition of the people of the upper peninsula and of the state authorities.
The Herald's article is as follows:
The route to be adopted in the proposed extension of the Menominee River
railroad, is a matter of so much importance not only to the people of this and
Delta counties, but the state at large, that we cannot forbear calling public attention, for the second time, to the subject. We have no reason to suppose that
either the railroad authorities or the Commonwealth mine interest are prejudiced
against the extension from the present terminus by a line which shall skirt the
south side, the iron formations in 40 30 and 40 31, west of the Quinnesec. On
the contrary it is the impression that this route is favorably regarded by both
of these interests. But as there are rumors to the effect that there is a possibility of the extension commencing at a point on the present completed line,
two miles east of Quinnesec, and running thence regardless of all intervening
interests, northwesterly to the Commonwealth, we are going to invite the attention of our readers to some of the important reasons why such a step would be
inexpedient and unsatisfactory.
The state swamp lands of the counties of Delta and Menominee, which apply on the
grant to the Menominee River railroad company, were, in the year '73, excepted
from the Marquette and Mackinaw grant, for the specific purpose of applying
them, at a future day, to the aid of a railroad through the Menominee range. The
act approved, April 3, 1875, conforming to this purpose, donated seven sections
per mile of these lands to this road, and specially required that the road
should run "as far west and south as section 34 40 30, and from thence to
the Michigamme river." It is not fair to suppose the petition embodying the
above limitation, which was so generally signed in this and Delta counties, had
for its sole purpose the mine of Quinnesec. It would have been made to reach a
point four miles further west, had not its originators believed that the
formation of the country. If not the good sense of the railroad projectors,
would continue the line a sufficient distance westerly to embrace the Iron
mountain [sic], Walpole and Edward's interests on section 31 and 32 of the same
town. This is leaving out the important interests on the same latitude in the
adjoining town of 31. However this may be, a proper construction of the language
of the act locates the main line of the road as far south and west as section
34-40-30, and in no sense does it provide for a "direct" route to any
iron location in the state of Wisconsin. Michigan has not pledged her swamp
lands to the attainment of any such purpose. There is not, and cannot be any
question, in a business point of view, as to the expediency of this road running
to the Commonwealth mine, or rather to so establish its main line, destined for
the Michigamme river, as to provide a connection with that important location.
But there are grave reasons, founded upon the subsidy extended it, and connected
with the revenues of this county and the state, why the iron locations on this
side of the river should not be "left out in the cold," in the
attainment of that point.
Many persons in this community have the impression that iron properties are not
subject to taxation for town and county purposes. This is not the case. The
specific tax of one cent per each ton of ore is in lieu only of state taxes. The
mining property at its true cash value is as subject to town and county listing
as any other property, and it is not far in the future when the iron locations
of the Lower Menominee Range will contribute as much to our local revenues as
any other class of property, provided always, that they are not "left out
in the cold." It becomes the duty, then, of every taxpayer to interest
himself in this extension, and direct his influence to the selection of a route
which shall develop in the highest degree the resources of Menominee county and
the revenues of the state.

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There are men of information and influence in all parts of the state interested
in our range. They should not fail to observe closely the progress of this
enterprise.
If it was an effective argument in '75 in obtaining the grant for the road, that
the specifix [sic - specific] tax accruing to the state from the ore raised
would ultimately counterbalance the value of the lands donated, it is no less effective to-day; and the great promise which the range now presents for an inexhaustible supply of ore gives good color to the proposition. The state officers
who hold these lands in trust for the accomplishment of this enterprise, will undoubtedly see that the object of the grant is not sacrificed to develop
interests in the state of Wisconsin. We are particular to state that at this
writing we have only the rumors floating about that it is the purpose to diverge
from the Lower Range at a point east of Quinnesec, and cross the river at Twin
Falls. We trust the railroad authorities do not contemplate such a step. It
would surely invite serious opposition from more than one source.

More than a year would pass before a decision was made to extend the Menominee
Range Railway mentioned in the above article. The following articles from Escanaba's The Iron Port document the growth of the new settlements along the
Menominee Range Railway during 1878 and early 1879.

In this stirring little town, signs of improvement are everywhere visible. New
buildings are going up on both sides of the stream and everything looks promising.
W.E. Ferguson, who is engaged in general merchandising business, finds
his former building too small to accommodate his increasing trade and has consequently been forced to build another story on top. John K. Stack was just opening a very large assorted stock, in his new building, which is almost completed.
The Waucedah hotel, of which Gifford is the host, is increasing its size to more
than double its former dimensions. Dr. Fortier, of Menominee, is building a drug
store and office, which he will occupy as soon as completed. The new school
house is almost completed. Several small dwellings are going up and another
hotel, or something of that kind[,] is contemplated. The prospects of Waucedah
look quite bright and, as it is surrounded by a splendid farming country, which
is at pre sent rich in timbered wealth, it can only be a question of
comparatively limited time, when the whole region will be under the plow.
Settlers are coming in and taking up this land quite fast and a very few years
must convert this present wilderness of timber and and [sic] wild growth into
smiling farms. The location of an iron furnace here would materially assist the
development of the place and the surrounding country. From the vicinity of
favorable ores and a comparatively unlimited supply of hard wood, together with
the railroad facilities it would seem as though the point should arrest the
attention of capitalists, to its advantages, for a plant of that kind. The
present prosperity of the town is owing in a great measure to the energy and
enterprise of Messrs. Breen, Saxton and Judge E.S. In- galls, the mine
proprietors. Under the proper mining head we speak of the Breen and Emmett
mines.

BASS LAKE, near Iron Mountain, on the new road from Quinnesec to the Twin Falls,
is described as a beautiful sheet of water, completely framed in with a pebbly
beach. It is full of fish that are anxious and willing to take a bite pro vided
that the opportunity is offered them. This will be another attraction,

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among the many, with which that region abounds. -- It is only five miles from
town and you can either ride or go afoot. Owing to a heavy rain while we were
there, we missed the chance of gazing on its crystal contents.

QUINNESEC.

Is putting in its best licks for the honor of being the first city in the
Menominee Iron Range. Although the reporter of this institution has made
numerous pilgrimages into that locality of late, yet he has without the aid of a
field glass observed numerous improvements every time. The residence of the Hon.
John L. Buell, on the eminence just as you enter town[,] is approaching
completion. Wendel, of the Quinnesec Hotel[,] is not behind in fresh
attractions. He has secured at a great expense a brand new barber, and has him
safely penned up in one corner of the billiard room. A small admission fee is
charged to view the acquisition. His bar is also adorned with a newly coined
tender, who was imported directly from Sweden. Still further improvements are in
contemplation. John McKenna, in the plate glass fronted structure, across the
way has lately put in one of the finest pool tables in the country. It is
supported by four lions who have been trained so that they are perfectly
peaceable to strangers. He has also got hold of a barber, but has not got him
caged up yet and lets him run round loose. The mining company's store is fast
approaching completion and will soon be filled with molasses, dry goods,
codfish, perfumery, pork, flour and other fancy articles: Wright, Bros. &
Co. are doing a smashing business in the line of general merchandise, and are
still trying to serve the Lord and the post-office department to the best of
their knowledge and belief, so help them Bob. Newberry & Jenkins are still
slashing up the sirloin roasts and venison steaks at a great rate. If business
keeps on in this way with them they will soon have to put up an appendix with a
cupola on top. Tim Macnamara's hotel -- the Central -- is doing finely, and
internal improvements are going on in the neighborhood of its insides. Tim's
barber has'nt [sic] arrived yet, but when he comes he will be a nice one. A.
Surprise, nearly opposite, is doing a surprising good business with a billiard
table and all the necessary trimmings to go with it. Maurice McKenna has been
improving his store very much of late and in addition to pills and plasters,
has fitted up one side for groceries and other good things to eat. Maurice is
bound to do well, and if he keeps on improving in good looks, will soon be able
to get married and retire on a competency. Hugh McLaughlin's headquarters we
believe are at the Quinnesec Hotel. -- To his fatigueing duties as township
clerk he has added that of insurance agent, and is prepared to insure anything
from a store or dwelling to a lightning rod peddler. His policies will cover all
the mishaps and accidents of life -- fire, brimstone, cholera, mad dogs and book
agents. The Hon. John L. B. is full of business as usual, and if Quinnesec is
not a first-class suburban, hay fever retreat, it will not be his fault.
Everybody else is well and happy.

THE work of improving the upper Quinnesec Falls so that logs can be safely
got over is at length completed. It spoils the wild beauty of the river but will
put thousands of dollars into the pockets of the lumbermen. As this was one of
the worst places on the stream and it became necessary to build a pier 156 feet
long by 12 feet wide, which acts as a breakwater and makes a safe channel 20
feet wide on the Wisconsin side. The rocks had previously been blasted out of
the channel, so that logs can now come through with perfect safety.

Business is very lively here for a small place and the town is growing --
morally, physically and numerically. Dr. Fortier, of Menominee, has his office
completed, and has already moved in. He will be a valuable accession to the
place.
J.K. Stack has got his new store in full blast, under the charge of Joseph
Brown, and is determined to share the profits with W.E. Ferguson -- the pioneer.
Competition is beginning to be felt and already there is a fall in prices.
Opposition is the life of trade.
In a village with only one saloon not as much spirited amusement can be expected as if there were three or four, but we can occasionally get up a lively
rumpus, especially when a "bit of shtick," came into play. But leaving
all jokes aside whisky is no benefit to a place and Hays or Kearney may tramp
the land till doomsday talking about what will help the working man, to no
effect, as long as he will not let this liquid hell—fire and distilled
damnation alone.
Judge E.S. Ingalls and Bartley Breen made us a pleasant visit lately while
looking over the mines that they are interested in.
The Emmett mine still continues to look very favorably. The management are now
stripping off the edge of the swamp and are uncovering a large body of blue ore,
which mining experts pronounce to be of the best quality. There are acres of
BROWN hematite in sight. It is very easily mined and placed on the dock at a
very small expense. Altogether this mine looks as well as the most sanguine
could desire. In pit No. 2 of the Breen mine they have found what appears to be
a large deposit of ore beneath a slight overlay of sandstone, which is now being
blasted out. If this ore bed meets expectations it will be the first underground
mining on the location. A horse derrick is running at pit No. 3 and the ore is
being taken out at a lively rate. Capt. Harrington attends to both mines.

PINE TREE.

For the IRON PORT.
WAUCEDAH, Oct. 15.

The new store at Vulcan is nearly ready to be occupied.
Mr. Hultz [sic - Hulst] is having a new house built which he will occupy as soon
as finished.
The shipment of ore from the Vulcan has been unusually large for the past few
weeks.
The shipments of ore from the Norway for the past few days will press hard upon
200 tons per day, and their output is increasing. They will soon be ready to
ship from pit No. 2 at the Norway; the ore of which is very similar to the Quinnesec.
Mr. Buell is improving the wagon road between Vulcan and Quinnesec very much.
The weather in this locality has been quite stormy of late; severe winds and
rain storms, with heavy thunder, blowing down great quantities of fine timber.
M.

THE new iron bridge across the Menominee River at the Twin Falls is
completed, and will probably be open for travel this week. This will be a great
convenience to the large lumbering firms operating on the river and its
tributaries.

Mr. J.K. STACK returned last week from a visit to the flourishing village of
Waucedah, and reports everything as looking very promising. The mining prospects
never were better, and the company will work a large force of men this winter,
as they can readily sell at remunerative figures, every ton of ore that they can
mine. With the present flattering indications of the market, for the sale of the
Menominee ores, he thinks that this location will present a very lively
appearance next season.

HERMANSVILLE.

Is the name of the new post-office just established at the new saw-mill location of C.J.L. Myers, Esq., the great sash, door and blind manufacturer, of Fond
du Lac and Chicago. The improvements placed there already are very substantial,
consisting of the mill which is now inclosed, a large and handsome boarding
house and a general store, besides other buildings; the whole of which has been
mention ed before in our columns. Everything wears an air of permanence and
substantiability which characterize all the operations of that gentleman. We
hear it rumored that there is a possibility of Mr. Myers removing his blast
furnace from Fond du Lac and rebuilding it at his new town. The site would
certainly be a good one, as it is in a fair hardwood region and is close to the
mines.

ED. IRON PORT: -- The weather here now is simply delightful. For mining purposes it could not be better, but for logging it is not so good; no snow to
speak of and what there was, left us a few days ago.
This burgh grew fast last summer and fall. There are more people than appears at
first sight. Fourteen families living north of the mine, and six or eight a few
rods up the railroad and there are other buildings to be erected the coming
summer, which will add still more to the attractions of the place.
The company has succeeded in clearing the mine of water and Capt. Harrington is
doing good work with the small force of men available. Forty or fifty more men
could find work here. The mine looks well; a shaft 12x12, 25 or 30 feet is down
in pure ore of an excellent quality for Bessemer steel. Mr. Tuttle, of
Cleveland, has secured the handling of the ore and henceforth the orders of the
company will be as good as Tuttle himself. There is no doubt but that with
proper machinery, good management and ample means, "There's Millions in
it."
The homestead wave is passing over this locality, tending toward the
"Common wealth." A dozen or more have already taken up homesteads
thereabouts and will become "badgers," and more will follow the
example. That's right gentlemen, the soil pays bountifully, and with passable
industry your children will not go to bed hungry. Then you will be independent
of the Iron Kings. There is plenty of good hardwood lands in this vicinity, but
it is owned by rich men or wealthy corporations and they say, "pay us our
price or go without the land." These lands should be taxes as high as the
farmers['] clearnings. That would be better than taxing government bonds.
I would like to ask the "Iron Port" where its farmer correspondents
have gone to? Now, gentlemen of Delta county, yours is pre-eminently an
agricultural county

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and for years will remain so. You haqe [sic - have] a very excellent paper published for you, -- I say FOR YOU; for until an editor can lay up $10,000 a year,
he publishes it for you. Therefore subscribe for it every one of you, and write
for it and let people outside of your immediate vicinity know what you are
doing. Don't say you have nothing to write about, there are thousands of things
you can tell the editor, and that will be of interest in the county and
elsewhere. Can you spend a half hour any more pleasant than in writing for your
paper. Tell what crops you raise, or are going to raise, and cost of the same.
What kinds of cattle or hogs you have, profitable or unprofitable; fencing or
wood chopping, rate of wages, and hundreds of other things you will think of
when you sit down to write. Remember it is the items gathered through the county
that go to make up a good paper, and published in a reliable paper as the
"Iron Port" will be the means of bringing thousands of settlers into
your county who otherwise would never draw inspiration from its health giving
breezes. Again I say, keep your editor posted as to how you are getting along.
Now sir, I have written these few words without either fear or wit, -- just as
thoughts came uppermost. If you conclude to "prent" them, well and
good; if not it's all the same to

The future of the Menominee Iron Range points unerringly to the march of a large
immigration into this section in a comparatively short space of time. The new
developments but enhance the ultimate result. Pine and mineral enough exist to
employ $100,000,000 of capital and an untold army of men at work. These elements of wealth cannot be overlooked and must very soon attract the situation of
the miner, speculator, capitalist, scientist and philosopher. This range is rich
beyond question, throughout its entire length, which is comparatively
undeveloped. Amid the grandeur of its hills and in the preadimate [sic -
preadamite] store houses of its treasure caves, lies untold wealth awaiting the
hand of intelligence and capital to unlock its doors.
To those in search of pleasure, health and recreation, away from the din and
exticement [sic - excitement] of the busy cities, who wish to find sport and
amusement in wild, picturesque and grand scenery of this region, will find all
they expect and more too. In the streams and lakes are to be found myriads of
fish, from the muscalonge [sic — muskellunge], weighing sometimes thirty
pounds, to the gorgeous speckled trout, who really think it is a pleasure to be
caught. In the forests surrounding are to be found deer, rabbits, partridges,
woodcock, and pigeons in their seasons. Those in search of more exciting game
will find the black bear and huge timber wolf. On the rivers and creeks wild
duck, snipe and other aquatic fowls abound. All this game is to be found within
a few miles of the stations along the line of the railroad. As a general thing
good hotels can be readily obtained. Towns and villages have sprung up within a
few months on the streams, the borders of the lakes and amid the primeval
forests, and the day cannot be far distant when the population of the Menominee
range will be composed of a sturdy, energetic and intelligent people. Every
State in the Union has contributed to its growth and as the resources are
inexhaustible and so many elements conspire to happiness and prosperity, it will
in time, become densely settled. At the pre sent terminus of the railroad -—
Quinnesec, -— will be found a perfect store-house of the grand and picturesque
in nature. On one side of the town are high hills from whose summit the eye can
wander over river and valley, forest and plain, to a distance of 18 or 20 miles.
About 600 yards from the depot are the beautiful lit-

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tle Fumee Falls, which with its rocky surroundings, will in time, be a very
attractive piece of scenery. Two and a half miles below the village are the
magnificent lower Quinnesec Falls, on the Menominee river, which pour through a
gorge at an acute angle and is probably not less than 90 feet in perpendicular
altitude. At nearly the same distance above the town is the upper Quinnesec
Falls, which is not quite so high. Boating and fishing is good on the river and
the adjoining streams abound in speckled trout. Quinnesec is about 47 miles due
west from Escanaba.

On the 6th of March the State Senate passed by a vote of 22 to 4 -- the nays
being Messrs. Hodge, Lewis, Pendleton and Weir -- a bill to grant seven sections
of swamp land in Menominee or Delta Counties, except in range 18 west, to aid in
the extension of the Menominee River Railroad, through the Menominee iron range
from its present terminus, near Quinnesec, to the Michigamme River. The provisions of the bill require five miles of the road to be built before January,
1881, and ten miles a year thereafter. If the company construct [sic] in any one
year more than the number of miles specified the excess is to be credited upon
the amount of the next year.

HON. JOHN L[.] BUELL, of Quinnesec[,] is starting a newspaper in his thriving
young town, under the management of Mr. PENBERTHY, formerly of the Menominee
Herald. The name of the new paper will be the Menominee Range. It will be
independent in politics and luke warm in religious matter. The IRON PORT wishes
it all the success imanineable [sic - imagineable] and hopes that it may amass
stocks o' wealth, as big as the hills, which surround the charming village.

MESSRS. HARTEAU & BEBEAU of this place have determined to open a
dry goods store at Quinnesec and for that purpose have already purchased the
vacant lot on the main street, next to WRIGHT BROS[.] & Co., and will
immediately commence the erection of a building. They design to carry a heavy
and complete stock of goods.

IT has been reported that the parties interested in projecting the building of a
narrow gauge railroad along the intermediate iron range to Escanaba cannot get
the right-of-way to our water front and consequently would have to seek some
other outlet. This is not the case, and the IRON PORT is authorized to state,
that on the contrary, every facility in that connection will be extended to
them.

LAST Tuesday night a burglar broke a window in the Quinnesec Hotel at
Quinnesec and stole a valise from the office belonging to ED. GIRZIKOWSKY of
Ishpeming containing watches, jewelry, silverware &c. A young man of the
name of KELLER was subsequently arrested at Green Bay as the supposed thief.

T.S. FORT, a well known citizen of this place, who removed to Quinnesec a few
weeks ago, met with the misfortune of breaking his leg. It appears that he was
building a scaffolding, last Friday, on the outside of Maurice McKenna's drug
store and while in the act of raising a heavy green board to the staging above
him, the one on which he was standing gave way and he was precipitated to the
ground, a distance of about 15 feet. The board fell at the same time and the
end struck him in the leg, below the knee, fracturing both bones in such a shape
that they protruded through the flesh. The surgeon of the Menominee River Mining
Co., Dr. McLEOD, reduced the fracture and he appears to be getting along as
well as could be expected. We understand that-he is in straightened
circumstances, and it is a case where the assistance of the charitable would not
be misplaced.

MR. FELCH is building a dwelling house on Pine Street.
MR. BUELL has been absent during the week in Chicago.
MR. OLESON has got a new two-story dwelling house almost finished.
JOHN McKENNA seems to have his hands fill, with his new mine, and his other
business.
MR. A.R. HARLOW of Marquette and ROBERT NELSON of Ishpeming visited the Menominee River Range on Tuesday last.
Fluries of the "beautiful" were distinctly seen along the Menominee
River range last Monday, and flowers were in bloom at the same time.
NEWBERRY & JENKINS are doing a fine business in the meat line and have all
they can attend to and are now giving the citizens beef from fresh slaughtered
cattle.
The Quinnesec Hotel is as usual crowded with guests and Mr. C.L. WENDEL, the
host, sometimes has his ingenuity taxed to the utmost, to supply accommodations
for all.
WRIGHT BROS. & Co[.], are prospering in worldly goods, which is evidenced by
the large improvements on their store, and their increased stock, which made the
enlargement necessary.
Our old friend TIMOTHY MACNAMARA[,] proprietor of the Central Hotel, has got the
building in first-class shape and it presents a fine appearance and judging from
his good natured looks, business must be well with him.
The town is lively with the hum of
business and the sound of the hammer and the
saw is heard from early morn to dewy eve and at the rate that new buildings are
going up and people coming in, Quinnesec will have a population of a thousand

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in a short time.
PATRICK McKENNA is commencing to build a store on the main street, second lot
south from his brother's drug store. The building will be 24X50 feet on the
ground and two stories high. The lower part is intended for a hardware store and
the upper portion for a dwelling.
JOSEPH PECARD of Menominee, the owner of the Quinnesec Hotel, was in town during
the week. Joe looks as young as ever and seemed as though the world went well
with him. We understand he offers the Quinnesec Hotel building for sale, which
is a very desirable property.
WRIGHT BROS. & Co., are building a new addition to their store, two stories
high. It is 22X85 feet on the ground. As soon as they can shift their goods a
little into the new part they will raise the present store another story, which
when completed will give them a commodious store 75 feet in length, with a ware-
room at the back.

The new saw-mill erected last winter by Mr. C.J.L. Meyer at Hermansville, is now
running and giving good satisfaction to its owner and builder. It is located
about 25 miles west of Escanaba, in the heart of a large tract of timber owned
by Mr. Meyer to whom the little town of Hermansville also owes its origin. The
saw mill, which was built under the veteran sash and door maker's personal
supervision, contains one circular with its various appurtences, lath and
shingle machinery. It is capable of cutting 50,000 feet of lumber and 100,000
shingles per day. Dry kilns have been erected and will prove of great utility in
fitting the shingles and some grades of lumber for early shipment. The shingles
will be sold and shipped to the trade direct from the mill, via the Chicago
& Northwestern railroad. Mr. Meyer spent a large portion of his time
superintending the construction of this mill and takes no little pride in its
operation. About 8,000,000 feet of logs were secured last winter and an
important feature of the owner is that they are not subject to the caprice of
wind or rain, having been hauled direct to the mill instead of to the banks of
some uncertain stream. About 2,000,000 feet more will be put in during the
summer, giving a total produce of 10,000,000 feet for the season.

MR. THOMAS HAY and family have moved to the Norway Mine near Quinnesec.

DR. J.S. NORTH, of this place[,] removed to Quinnesec on Wednesday last. He will
practice medicine in company with Dr. J.A. McLEOD of Vulcan. The citizens of the
Range have reason to congratulate themselves that they have two such good
physicians and surgeons as doctors McLeod and North. Dr[.] North will be located
at the chief town of the range and both will attend to any and all calls
promptly and satisfactorily. The Iron Port wishes the two gentlemen success.

HARTEAU & BEBEAU of the one price establishment are receiving the reward
of merit this spring in the large quantity of goods that they are selling. Their

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business has increased so, that they are forced to open a branch store at
Quinnesec.

ROSE[,] the artist [photographer], has got a brother and that brother has come
here and the firm name is now Rose Bros., and furthermore they have got a tent
and one of them proposes to travel around the country and take the likeness of
every thing animate and inanimate at moderate prices and in the very first style
of the art. The objective place now is Quinnesec and the IRON PORT would advise
the Quinnesecers to interview him. Headquarters will be here.

Breaking loose last Saturday after a hard week's work, we took a trip to Waucedah. The morning was warm and pleasant. The woods were looking glorious in
their new green dress and the ground at their feet were besprinkled with
flowers. The Quinnesec accomodation [sic] train left at 8:30 in the morning,
conductor M. HOULI HAN, carried us out as far as the Menominee River Junction.
We passed several fine farms, that in a few years will be hard to beat, and on
which spring work was actively going on. A large amount of wood, ties and posts
were on the banks of the track, but fires in the woods were making this kind of
property quite unsafe and during a strong wind, when it was as dry as it was
this time, the efforts of watchers are sometimes unable to save it from entire
destruction. Such a case happened in the afternoon of the day when the high wind
had made the flames uncontrollable and destroyed a lot of posts and telegraph
poles between Ferry and Spaulding. CROZER & McINTYRE'S mill at the latter
place, is turning out a big amount of lumber. The convenience of a planing mill
adds largely to their sales. They were also experiencing some little difficulty
with the fire, among their sawlogs on the railroad bank, further up the line. At
the Junction we accepted an invitation from Superintendent W.B. LINSLEY to take
a ride on his lately arrived minature [sic] engine "Minnie." It is a
perfect little beauty and skims over the road like a thing of life. It will run
anywhere where there are two rails and will be of immense convenience in
facilitating business with the various mines and lumbering location[s]. We
passed by the fine lumbering establishment of C.J.L. MYERS on Little Cedar
river, which by the way is [a] model of its kind. An immense quantity of logs
for a small stream are on hand and everything is arranged systematically,
substantially and neat, giving it an air of permanence which is seldom found, in
the country, at mills of this kind. The making of sash, doors and blinds, in
connection with the lumber business, will be carried on extensively. Arrived at
Waucedah, we refreshed our selves first with a dinner at the excellent table of
Mr. GIFFORD -- who by the way has largely improved his house lately -- and then
took a survey of the town and surroundings, including the far famed Emmett iron
mine, with its hidden treasure of gold and silver, we [sic] found Mr. W.E.
FERGUSON about as busy as ever, dispensing his fine general assortment of goods
to his numerous customers. He carries d large and well selected stock
of almost everything that the people want and should be well patronized. As he
had the pioneer store and lived through the times when business was small he
should reap the benefits when times are prosperous. Another old pioneer PAT.
O'CONNELL looks as though the world went well with him and he tells us that he
has some slight prospects of developing into a new mine owner, some of these
days. P.J. GATES, the boss boot and shoe maker of the place can turn out those
articles of foot wear, which for style and comfort cannot be beaten anywhere. He
is doing well and has a large run of custom from the surrounding country.
THOMAS BREEN one of the genial proprietors of the Emmett mine, turned us over to
his mining captain, MICHAEL HARRINGTON, who accompanied us in an examination of
the mine and its workings. This valuable mine never looked better than it does
at

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the present time and an immense body of ore is uncovered. They are working
however principally on the blue hematite, on the south side, which is showing
splendidly. With an average of about twenty-five men in the mine, he is taking
out from seventy to eighty tons a day, which is being shipped about as fast as
it is removed. They have also a stock pile on hand of about 5000 tons. Capital
seems to be all that is necessary to make this one of the best mines, in point
of yield, on the range, as there is a demand for every pound they can take out.
We had intended to have visited the new find by Hamilton, Merryman Co., on
section 21, about a mile from town, but shortness of time prevented us doing so,
we shall however examine it before long. We are informed the show is good and
the ore somewhat similar to that of the Emmett. If this should prove to be the
case it will stimulate other mining explorations in the vicinity.
The trip was very agreeable and was a very pleasant break into the monotony of
everyday labor. It will pay our citizens well, during this early summer weather,
to rest themselves with a trip along the Menominee Rives [sic - River] mineral
range.

Towards the shank of last week our reporter made a run to the future metropolis
of the Menominee river range -- Quinnesec. Everything in and around the town
showed a fair business activity. Building still continues to be lively.
Patrick McKenna's building is almost as far as it was before the unfortunate
blow-down. Edward Smythe, the contractor, keeps it securely braced as the work
progresses, all ready for any more little frisky zephyrs which may take a notion
to happen along that way.
Harteau & Bebeau's new store was almost completed, and their large general
stock was fast arriving to fill it. Samuel and John looked as happy as two clams
in one shell and were as busy as a horse's tail in fly time. They have got a
handsome store, and no mistake.
Wright Bros. & Co. were just putting the finishing touches on their mammoth
building, and were gradually filling it up, from cellar to garret, with every
thing, from eatables to dry goods. It is well arranged and everything is as neat
as a new red wagon. The postoffice in the store has also improved itself, and
with its lock boxes looks quite metropolitan. As was before remarked, they keep
everything that is generally called for, from saw mills to steamboats.
Jenkins, of the firm of Newberry & Jenkins, was slashing away the beef and
pork steak at the rate of a shilling a pound, and Newberry was trying to be
sick, but he was going to be around in a day or two, as he could not afford to
be sick very long when beef cattle are worth $4.90 on foot.
Penberthy was off to Menominee buying a saw mill, seeing his girl, or attending
to some other important business of that kind.
Buell was off in the woods for his health and was roaming around the romantic
borders of Lake Antoine and occasionally catching a sucker by way of pastime.
John McKenna was in town on business, and reports the prospects of that mine tip
top. Maurice, his brother, is constantly adding new goods to his already large
stock. He says business is first—rate.
A sectional view was had of Mr. T. Macnamarra [sic], landlord of the Central. We
might be afraid to bet against Tim being one of the first aldermen of the new
city.
Drs. McLeod, North and Fortier were all in town, and still the health of the
place was reported to be very fair. No deaths occurred while they were there.
Captain Tobin had just returned from the virgin forest, weighted down with

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rocks for ballast, which he unloaded on Wendell 's center table. Among them were
some fine looking specimens of hematite ore, found either three feet under the
surface or above it. It looked rich anyway.
Wendell had his good clothes on and was going to Menominee. He says the hotel
and iron mining business is running nicely.
Rose Bros., the artists, were enjoying themselves under a canvass tent, and
taking first-class pictures at the same time. They will take the falls, the Quinnesec mine, and all the other valuable property around. A set of first-class
views of scenery in the Menominee region will sell like fire crackers on the 4th
of July.
George Barclay and Hugh McLaughlin looked as though their boarding houses agreed
with them.
Mr. Felch is hurrying up his new building on Quinnesec street as fast as the
Lord and the carpenters will let him.
Surprise's billiard hall is as neat as a pin, and he complains of doing a very
satisfactory business.
Omer Huff, the accomodating [sic] manager of the Quinnesec Hotel, declares the
business is first rate and prospects for the season good.

We understand C.L. Wendel has sold out his furniture stock and fixtures, in
the Quinnesec Hotel to a man from Marinette.

MR. ED. McKENNA of Quinnesec, met with a very severe accident at that place on
Tuesday morning. He had been sleeping in his room, in the second story of his
brothers [sic] house, and it is supposed that he got up in his sleep, about 4
o'clock in the morning, and stepped out of the open window. His cries soon
brought the family to his assistance, when it was found that he was severely
injured. A physician was summoned, who ascertained that besides being hurt
internally, that some of his ribs were fractured. He finally sank under his
injuries and died last evening.

C.L. WENDELL ESQ. has purchased a tract of land near the Norway and
Cyclops mines, which he designs laying out into a town site. [NOTE: Wendell laid
out Norway.]

IT would seem to an outsider, that the C. & N.W.R.R. Co. might afford to
foster its passenger trade over the Menominee River R.R. to the extent of one
coach. The Caboose on the Quinnesec accommodation is utterly inadequate to accommodate the travel on the route.

--A party of men under the charge of Mr. Dow are at work improving the Menominee river, at the Little Quinnesec falls. Wing dams will be built so as to con
fine the water to a narrow channel , and some rocks, at present a hindrance to
log driving, will be blasted out.

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[Menominee Herald.]

--Mr. Buell has decided to erect a handsome brick building at Quinnesec a
few doors north of the post office, the lower story of which will be used for a
bank. It will be in charge of a gentleman experienced in the business. The upper
story will be used for an Odd Fellows Hall.

--We neglected to mention last week that Capt. Whitehead, of the Vulcan House,
Vulcan, was running a 'bus line between Vulcan and Quinnesec.
--Mr. J.L. Buell has sold the option of a lease of what is known as the Walpole
property to the Menominee Mining Co. for the consideration of $11,000. The
property is said to be one of the most valuable on the range. [NOTE: The Walpole
Mine was located on Pewabic Hill in Iron Mountain.]

On Saturday, the 2d inst., the Quinnesec accommodation train on the M.R. rail
way, Conductor Van Dyke, had some switching to do at Hermansville. In the
discharge of his duties it became necessary for one of the brakemen to board the
moving train, which he did by catching the side ladder of the end car as it
passed him and climbing to the roof of the car. Just as he reached the roof and
straightened up to step upon it, his feet being still upon the side ladder and
his hand-grip loosed, the "slack of the train" was taken up with a
slight jerk, and the unfortunate man was thrown upon the road in front of the
still moving car and instantly killed, the wheels passing over his head and of
course crushing it; one leg was also crushed. The name of the man was Frederick
Roberts. He had been in the employ of the rail way company since the opening of
navigation, and had proved himself a sober, careful, railroad man, while his
associates and acquaintances speak of him as an estimable person in other
relations of life. The remains were forwarded to the residence of his parents
at Sheboygan, Wis.
While the loss of life is to be mourned, it is but proper to say that the
accident was one for which no one, not even the deceased himself, was in fault;
was one of those
occurrences inseparable from the railway service, to which the
careful man, the man of experience, is as liable as a green hand.

--The Emmett mine is shipping about 170 tons of ore per day.
--The Vulcan mine is now turning out about 400 tons of ore per day.
--The Emmett Mining Co. has taken charge of the Breen mine and commenced work

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there.
--A bank in Quinnesec! Only two years old and about to have a bank establish ed.
Just think of it.
--Rumored that D.L. Andrews has struck it big west of the Emmett mine, and has
a vein of good ore over 50 feet in width.
--It is with pleasure and gratification that we are prepared to announce to
our readers, and the public generally, that the Menominee Range will be
enlarged within the next sixty days.
--Jos. Reilly, a conductor on one of the ore trains, has a pet owl, which
rides on his caboose a good share of the time. On Thursday last, as the train
was passing a woodpile, the owl attempted to drop from the top of the caboose to
the guard rail around the platform, but missed his guess, and landed on the side
of the railroad. The next morning when the train arrived at that particular
spot, the owl, who had been roosting on the wood pile all night, recognized it,
and soon occupied his old quarters on the caboose again.

AN unknown man, having the appearance of a laborer, was found drowned in the
Little Cedar river, at Hermansville, on Tuesday. It is not known how he came to
his death, but is supposed that he fell off or through the railroad bridge.

SWAN OLESON was drunk and John Morrison was drunk. Swan Oleson was quiet and
sleepy, John Morrison was unquiet and savage. Swan Oleson is short an ear and
fragments of cheek and nose which John Morrison bit off and ate. Aall [sic] at
Quinnesec on Sunday.

THE boarding house and office of O'Callaghan's mill, near Norway, were burned on
Wednesday morning. We did not learn how the fire originated. Some of the mill
hands lost clothing and small sums of money in the house, and Mr. O'Callaghan's
loss on buildings and furniture is about $1,000. No insurance.

[A volunteer correspondent sends us the following items from the Menominee
range. Come again, Jeems:]
--The woods are full of explorers, and you run across test pits in almost every
direction. Considerable mining property is changing hands, and some very fine
strikes have been made.
--Norway has already twelve buildings, seven of them business houses. Robin son,
of Marinette, is building one hotel and Thomas Hay another. A large livery
stable is going up. A depot will be built there, as it is bound to be a large
business point. C.L. Wendell, the proprietor, has built him a neat residence,
and is busy improving the town by grading streets, etc. A number of other
buildings are in contemplation. Twenty lots were sold last week to parties
intending to build.
--Quinnesec is improving rapidly. Hon. J.L. Buell is going to build a large
two—story building on a prominent corner of the main street. It will be 50x90
on the ground, divided into two rooms below, one of which will be a store and
the other a bank, with a hall overhead. Mr. Buell has offered to give four lots
and $500 to the Catholic church to build an educational institution. The Sisters
of

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Charity are soliciting additional subscriptions, and are very successful. The
first building will be brick, to cost $4,000 or $5,000. The railroad from here
west will be commenced this week. The contract of grading five miles was let to
Mr. Conro, of the Menominee Mining Co. It will open up four or five new mines,
and business here will be red-hot while it is building.

--The diamond drill still keeps at work boring for the Quinnesec vein, and has
now reached a depth of about 675 feet; are still boring in limestone.
--Work on the extension of the railroad west of this place commenced Monday. Men
have been arriving for the past few days, and are strung along the line for a
distance of two or three miles.
--Active explorations are in progress on sections 17, 20, 21, 25, 30, 31, 32 and
33, 40-30, sections 17 and 21, 39-28, section 18, 40—31, and section 2, 39-30;
and in every case with good prospects.
--The brute who has been sending obscene letters through the mail to a respectable lady of this place should be ham-strung. It is a State prison offense, and
we understand that efforts are being made to trace up the offender, who, if he
has a name, does not use it. If discovered, he will be prosecuted to the full
extent of the law.
--The Menominee River Lumber Co. are locating their camps somewhat earlier
this year than usual, on account of the long hauls. They are putting in four
camps on the Sturgeon river, one at Hay creek, one at Hamilton creek, one at
Quinnesec, one at Week's landing, and three at Chalk hill.
--"We are bound to have order in Norway," says Mr. C.L. Wendel,
"if we have to appoint every business man in town a constable." Let
those rowdies and roughts who have been in the habit of raising little h—-ail
Columbia around the town take warning.

[Menominee Herald.]

--A house of ill fame was burned at Quinnesec on Friday night last. The fire was
incendiary, and the party who started it was arrested and fined $5 for assault
and battery.

WE visited Norway, the new town, lately, i.e., on Sunday last (we may as
well be explicit), and found it buzzing like a bee hive. Mr. Wendel's residence
is so nearly completed that he occupies a portion of it. Mr. Kimball's drug
store is completed and the stock in place. The foundations for the new hotel are
laid, as are also those of a large general store to be occupied by Johnston
& Co. Crane & McElroy are in their building. Four saloons are open. A
milliner's store is en closed, and will be occupied soon. Harteau & Bebeau
will open a stock of goods there on the 15th of October, in a store which
Bennett contracts to have ready by that time, although at the time of our visit
only the sills were on the ground, and the ground had yet to be broken for the
cellar. They will soon have a rail road station and a postoffice, though Mr.
Wendel, the projector and proprietor of the town, promises nothing, saying only:
"When the place does business enough with the railroad to make a station
necessary, it will be built; when a postoffice is needed and asked for, it will
be established. The railroad company wants busi-

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ness, and the postoffice department revenue; that is your guarantee. Neither the
railroad nor the postoffice is interested in or jealous of new towns."
Norway will grow.

WE made a short visit to "the range" this week, but found little
to remark that is not already known to our readers. Quinnesec grows, and must
grow, as long as Menominee ores are in demand at present prices. The hotel
enlargement is so far completed as to be in use, the opera house building begins
to show above ground, Barclay is in his new stable, and a dozen new houses are
up and occupied. Every man, boy and animal is busy, and others are constantly
arriving. The woods are full of explorers, and all are hopeful and happy. Norway
makes rapid progress. There are now three concerns with stocks of general
merchandize [sic]: Johnston Bros. & Co., Crane & McElroy, and Harteau,
Bebeau & Co. (Jas. F. Atkinson in charge); Kimball, drugs; Robinson, hotel;
Anderson & Co., hardware and stoves; Hay, restaurant; Krouse, boots and
shoes; Miss Vaughn, milliner; Roberts, livery stable; and four or five saloons.
There is plenty of pluck and energy displayed in the little burg, and if it does
not overtake Quinnesec, in point of population and trade, it will not be for
want of trying. Vulcan holds its own; but we noticed one thing only of which to
make an item, viz: that the present prices of ore had the company to hauling the
stock pile from the No. 1 pit, in carts, to the branch, for shipment. It is
stated, we know not upon what authority, that the shipments of the Menominee
Mining Company for the season, to date, aggregate over 200,000 tons, which would
make the total shipments from the district 250,000 tons, or more.

ON the 14th instant, at an exploring camp two miles east of Vulcan,
there died, of diphtheria, after an illness of only twenty-four hours, John
Cook, a native of New York, about 22 or 23 years of age. He was in the employ
of Hamilton & Merriman. He had, we are informed, no medical attendance, and
was hastily buried beside the railroad track near the camp.

O'CALLAGHAN'S store, kept chiefly for the supply of his force at the mill and in
camps, has this week been removed to the mill location near Norway. John is
furnishing piles and sawed timber and lumber for the new ore dock, a job which
is big enough to give all our mill men a share.

JAS. F. ATKINSON, late of the IRON PORT, was in town on Sunday and Monday He
will open a stock of goods (in company with Harteau & Bebeau, of Quinnesec,)
at Norway, at once, if indeed he has not done so before now.

--The Curry is expected to ship 30,000 tons next season.
--The Quinnesec mine is to be lighted by the Brush electric light, soon.
--The Cornell mine looks better with each day's work. It is undoubtedly a big
thing.
--The new town west of this place, near the Chapin mine, is to be called Iron
Mountain City.

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--The ore from the Stephenson mine has been tested in the Champion furnace, and
makes No. 1 iron.
--At the Chapin mine, Michael Schendler and Martin Clump quarreled, and Mar
tin used his knife, but not with fatal effect.
--The new hotel at Norway will undoubtedly change hands this week. Negotiations are now pending looking to such a result.

THE winter schedule of the C. & N.W. goes into effect to-morrow,
Sunday. Except that the ore trains are withdrawn, the changes affecting
Escanaba are slight. The up passenger is due at 11:29 a.m., the down passenger
at 3:30 p.m., the Quinnesec accommodation leaves at 7:40 a.m. and arrives at
7:45 p.m. A passenger train is put upon the M.R.R.R., which leaves Quinnesec at
9:12 a.m. to connect with the up passenger at the junction, and returns,
arriving at Quinnesec at 11:54 a.m.; leaves again at 3:12 p.m., connects with
the down passenger and arrives at Quinnesec at 6:02 p.m. The range is well
served on the new table.

THE C. & N.W. Railway Company has determined upon pushing westward its Menominee river branch, so as to open the iron district in Wisconsin, of which the
Commonwealth location is the best known, if not the central, [sic] point. The
contractor now engaged in preparing the road bed for the five mile extension
beyond Quinnesec, Mr. Conro, has undertaken an additional eleven miles, whhic
[sic - which] will take the road to the Commonwealth. With that district opened
up, and the Felch mountain lands developed, the product of the Menominee range
will not fall far short, if it does not finally exceed, that of the Marquette
range.

THE Iron Chronicle office is to be removed from Ishpeming to Norway.
The editor announces the fact in the Chronicle of the 31st, and adds: "In
making the change we feel that we are doing the people of Ishpeming a favor
rather than an injustice, for the reason that they are already overburdened with
newspapers, and the support necessary to maintain them falls heavily upon the
few who are obliged to contribute. There are too many papers in the county and
especially so in Ishpeming, and it is evident that in order to make the
business profitable some one must go; and, as we are working for money and not
fame, we feel perfectly willing to make the change." Which is, to say the
least, frank and outspoken. We wish the new enterprise every success, but we
can't help wondering how Mr. Jones expects to do better at Norway than at
Ishpeming. He will find the competition quite as sharp in one place as in the
other, and those "obliged to contribute" fewer, for the present, at
least.

ON Saturday evening 31st ult., a row, ending in pistol practice, took place in
Rocheon's [sic - Rochon's] saloon, at Waucedah. As the story reaches us it is to
the effect that two men named O'Donnell, for some reason, assaulted Rocheon, and
had him down, when another man, one Kennedy, entered and interfered in the
interest of peace and public safety, pulled the O'Donnells away, and was
rewarded by a pistol shot. Rocheon had withstood the assault of the 0'Donnells
without recourse to weapons, but, mistaking Kennedy for a reinforcement to the
enemy, and thinking three upon one too great an odds, pulled his pop and blazed
away. The muzzle of the pistol touched Kennedy's head, but fortunately the axis
of the bore was at an acute angle with the wall of his cerebellum, and the
result of the shot was a scalp would only. The next time K. sees a fight he'll
take notes for the

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PORT, perhaps, but he won't be counted in. He don't fancy the reward of merit he
got last time.

...
--Side tracks are under way, to reach the Chapin and Lake Antoine (Cornell)
mines.

...

--One hundred and eighty-three strangers registered at the Quinnesec hotel
during the week endinf Feb. 28.
--The station at Norway is to be at the east end of the embankment and to
accomodate [sic] Frederickton and Ingallsdorf as well as Norway.
...
--The Menominee mining company will employ 1,500 or more men during the season
of navigation, and expects to ship over 400,000 tons of ore.
--The marsh between the village of Norway and the railway embankment will be
filled up and built upon. The marsh is shallow and the bottom hard.
...
--The Menominee mining company is to build a large boarding house near the
Norway location, and dig a big well to furnish a supply of water for ordinary
use and to extinguish fires should any occur.

--BOTH the Wisconsin Central and Milwaukee & Western railroads talk of ex
tensions to reach the range.
...
--NORWAY, not to lack anything that Quinnesec has, is to have an opera house
50 by 80 feet. The lower floor is to be divided into two business rooms.
...
--A MINER'S hospital is to be established somewhere on the range, probably at
Quinnesec. Drs. McLeod and North will be in charge thereof, which is guaranty
[sic] sufficient for efficiency and good management.
--COMMUNICATION by mail with the towns of the Menominee range is very slow and
uncertain. A passenger may leave Quinnesec in the morning and spend five hours
in Escanaba, and be at home again to supper, but it takes two days to get a
letter from that place to this, at the best, and longer yet if anything is out
of order. The range deserves better treatment at the hands of the postoffice
department.

--JOHN O'CALLAGHAN and Thos. McKenna are to build the Norway opera house.

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THE steel rails for the M.R. extension have begun to arrive, and will go into
position as soon as the weather permits. There will be no avoidable delay in get
ting the extension ready to handle ore.

OUR Norway neighbor is a trifle touchy. The announcement that the railway
company would put the station at a point where it would serve Ingallsdorf and
Frederickton as well as Norway, provokes it to say that such mention is "an
insult to every resident of the village, and those editors who are constantly
linking the three towns should receive the cold shoulder from every business
man here." Six months ago Norway existed only on paper, and no man can say
where the population will be five years hence. It is hardly good form to be so
cranky.

EVERY lot on the principal street of the new town of Florence has been sold.
...
THEY have commenced laying the steel on the extension west of Quinnesec, but
can't do much until the snow and ice goes.
...
AN iron property near the forks of Sturgeon river, a mile and a half from the
railroad, has recently been purchased by Chicago parties for $15,000.
RUMOR says that the railroad company will put up a round-house and shops at
Florence, and extend a branch thence northward to the Republic mine.
...
A COLLISION occurred, near Norway, on Tuesday, between the freight, Manley
conductor, and the switching engine in charge of John Moore. A demoralized caboose was the result and the extent of the
damage

TRACK laying on the extension beyond Quinnesec commenced this week.
THE NORWAY depot is to be located west of the culvert and fairly opposite the
town.
...
DENIS MULLINS wanted a revolver, and Anderson's clerk, in showing him one[,]
managed to shoot him with it. Dennis bought the pop, and now wants a chance to
get even.
...
THE only lively township election in our vicinity was held at Waucedah, and the
Norway Chronicle gives an incident thereof as follows:
...

"All I want," said Mike O'Connell, as he put his vote in the ballot
box, "is law and order." Now this was reasonable enough, and would
have been passed over by almost any crowd, but Jake Hoar, who was running for
clerk on the opposition, would ask Mike what kind of law and order there was
when he, Mike, was constable three or four years ago, during the time when the
great sleepy city of Waucedah was in its infancy and its town site a deer lick.
"An' faith, there was the best of ruling," answered Mike. "I well
remember the toime that a big spalpeen was raisin' bloody murther down there
beyant, and I goes to him and says, exhibiting my star, 'You're me prisoner.'
'And what can you do?' said he to me, 'ye've got

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no jail.' 'Come and you'll see what I'll do,' says I, and wid that I takes him
over to a big sthump, binds him hand and foot to it and leaves him there over
night. 'That's the kind of law and order we had thin, me boy."
Of course, the ticket that Mike voted was elected. Efficiency like that
described is always appreciated.

QUINNESEC has a cemetery.
...
THE Iron Mountain folks want a postoffice.
...
THE Norway depot has been commenced and will soon be ready for use.
...
THE railway company has put in a turn table at the Norway mine branch.
...
THE arrivals at the Norway hotels, for the week ending April 17, numbered
350.

...
THE Norway railway station has to be observed very carefully to detect
progress.
...
R.G. BROWN, formerly postmaster at Quinnesec, and the "Co." of Wright
Bros., has opened his trading post on the Brule.

...
THE mail facilities for the towns on the range are simply shameful. There are
10,000 people to be served by that route, and they are now as well served as the
people of Fayette.
THE railway company will have to put on a night force, especially night telegraphers, between Quinnesec and Escanaba, at once. The next thing will be a
double track. Engines and ore dumps are too thick for comfort or safety on a
single track.

--Norway station will be a telegraph station as soon as the building is ready
for occupation.
...
--The railway company will have a double track, west of Powers, before they know
it, if they keep on putting in long sidings.
--The stage between Quinnesec and Florence leaves Quinnesec on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Florence on the alternate days.
--It is reported that a mail car and messenger will be put upon the M.R.
railroad on the 1st of July. Three months too late, but better late than never.
--New telegraph offices have been established at Hermansville, with A.F. Sanford
in charge, and Norway mine branch, with C.J. Molloy in charge.
...
--The railway company has laid a mile of track west of Quinnesec. The track is
expected to reach the river by the first of June and give transportation facilities to the McKenna, Keel Ridge, Ludington and Chapin mines, each of which
will have its side track ready by the time the main track reaches them.

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--A flying trip to Norway and Quinnesec, early in the week, was not productive or profitable by reason of a raw northeaster that prevailed at the time and
rendered any visiting of mines unpracticable. We saw, however, evidences of
enterprise and prosperity on the right hand and the left. The hotels were full
of strangers, the trading places thronged with customers, and the streets with
out fits for the woods, explorers and miners. At Norway the railway company is
making progress (while we stood in a pelting rain waiting for transportation we
wished it were better) upon the depot building, for the foundation of which
piles have to be driven eighteen feet into the swamp. McKenna (Tom, we believe,)
has commenced a building for a livery stable, and several new residences and
business houses are going up. Quite a village, known as Sweden, has grown up on
the south side of the track, and the whole vicinity thrives. Messrs. Gaynor and
Hay, at the Wendel and Glen houses, are hard pressed to accommodate the
traveling public, and each pro poses to enlarge his house as soon as
practicable. At Quinnesec we did not see quite so many new shingles, but the
town is thriving and will thrive while the men of the place retain the intrepid
energy so far displayed, and adjacent hills yield their ferruginous wealth.
During the summer we propose to visit the village again, and see how it looks
when the sun shines.

--The side track to the East Vulcan will be completed, and shipping begin, by
the end of the month.
...
--It is said that the railway company will erect its warehouses at Common
wealth, and make that location headquarters for freight. That will make the
place the depot for lumbermen's supplies.
...
--The mines west of Quinnesec and between there and the river -- the Keel Ridge,
McKenna, Chapin, Ludington and Lake Antoine -- have their sidings well advanced, and will be in shape to ship ore as soon as the main line of railroad is
completed.

...
--The depot at Norway was completed on Thursday. The approach thereto, from the
town, has yet to be made and is more of a job than the building itself.
...
--The Quinnesec opera house will seat 800 people, and the folks thereabouts are
fond of amusement; knowning which, we asked Forbes why he did not go there with
his show. He replied that he had not learned how to seat an audience on beer
kegs. Clifford had tumbled to it -- small kegs, eighths, 50 cents; quarters,
reserved, 75 cents; half barrles, procenium boxes as it were, $1 -— but he was
accustomed to chairs and feared he wouldn't succeed with the Quinnesec seats.
...
--When the company can get cars, the Norway mine ships over 1,000 tons per
day. -—Range.

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Mr. West informs us that, upon an average 150 cars stand over from one day to
the next on the mine branches of the Menominee road; that the requisition of the
manager of the Menominee company's mines was for 225 cars daily, which number
was supplied for a time, but that 197 was the largest number loaded in one day,
and that the requisition was reduced to 200 on the attention of the manager,
being called to the facts.

...
--The grading of the railroad has been completed to Iron City [Iron Mountain].
...
--The 0'Callaghan brothers will build the Norway opera house. They are al ready
sure of tenants, at a good rent, and the business of the Hahleys.
...
--If half that is told of discoveries north and northwest of Quinnesec is true,
a line of rails will soon be demanded reaching thence to the Republic location.
Rumor says that a large body of ore, similar to that of the Republic mine, has
been discovered about midway between the two places.

...
--Keel Ridge mine commenced to ship ore on Friday of last week.
...
--The railway company is pushing the track west from Quinnesec at the rate of a
quarter of a mile a day.
...
--The Chapin and East Vulcan mines have commenced shipping ore, and the Ludington and Lake Antoine [Cornell] will soon follow.
--H.J. Bebeau is president and A.J. Cronkhite cashier of the Bank of Quinnesec.
Bank offices in the Buell opera house.
...
--The fall of iron does not seem to render any less eager the search for ore.
The whole country west of us is full of explorers, and new parties are fitted
out daily.

...
--The Norway depot is open and running. Mr. Sampson is agent and telegraph
operator.
...
--Water troubles not only explorers but miners. Cyclops and Curry were flood ed,
and the Lumbermen's company suspended work on section nine until the water sub
sides.
--The highway between the junction and Quinnesec is getting a good deal of work
just now. Correct. Put your roads in good order, buy horses, and laugh at the
rail way company.
...
--A subscriber at Waucedah complains that the PORT does not reach there until
Monday, and asks us where the delay occurs. We can not inform him further than
this: The paper is always in the postoffice here on Friday evening, and should
reach Waucedah on Saturday. That it does not is probably the fault of the post-
off ice department in not putting a regular messenger on the M.R. railroad. The
postal arrangements for the service of the people of the range are, and have
always been, shamefully inadequate -- a fact we have had occasion to mention on
previous occasions and shall again allude to until the fault is remedied. At the
same time it is possible that the messengers on the C. & N.W. road are
partly at fault, or the postmaster or mail agent at Powers, in which case we beg
of them to do the best they can to serve the public and not make a bad thing
worse by inattention. Our contemporaries out [on] the range might help us howl.
We never get the Range until Friday or the Chronicle till Monday.

--The Ludington mine commenced shipping on Thursday, and the Cornell (Lake
Antoine) will probably commence to-day.
...
--It is expected that the Florence will have 20,000 tons of ore stocked by the
time the railroad is completed so that shipments can begin.
...
--The grading is done to the river, and the track will probably reach there next
week.

--The roads in the timber are just bottomless.
--Florence has 500 and Commonwealth 300 inhabitants, by count, not estimate.
...

--The range was to have had a better mail service on the 1st inst. We do not
hear that it is yet established, but that it soon will be, with George Estover
as route agent.
--Mr. E.P. Royce "set up" the cigars, on Saturday last, upon the
occasion of the first shipment of ore from his (Lake Antoine) iron mine. We
smoked and congratulate.

--The Norway Chronicle says that a project is under consideration to open a.
wagon road from Norway to Felch Mountain, a distance of twelve miles. It ought
to be done, as those Norwayans are just enterprising enough to do it.
--And now the talk is that the postal car will not be put upon the M.R. rail
road until it is completed to Florence.
--The Quinnesec bank will open, if it has not already opened, a branch at
Norway, with Cronkhite, junior, in charge.
...
--A mail car for the M.R. railroad is in the yard at Escanaba, and we hope to
be able, next Saturday, to announce the fact that it has been put upon the road.
The range has been neglected by the p.o.d. [post office department] long enough.
--Cyrus Mason, a brakeman employed on Jos. Riley's ore train, was severely
pinched about the hips while attempting to couple a high car and a low one, at
Quinnesec, on Friday of last week. He was brought to Escanaba to be cared for.
...
--The next howl that will greet the ears of the Chicago & Northwestern
rail way company, from this section, will be for a railroad from Escanaba to the
Felch iron mountain. --Chronicle.
You won't need [to] howl. The C. & N.W. company will put a track to the
Felch mountain as soon as anybody has anything to ship therefrom.

...
--Iron Mountain station, four miles west of Quinnesec, is open for business.
John Merriman is in temporary charge.
...
--One Samuel Gayner, a man about 50 years of age, was run over and killed by
ore train No. 42, Langworthy conductor, at about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night,
between Norway and Vulcan. He was known as a "hard drinker," and our
readers may remember that he has paid a fine or two for drunkenness in our
police court. As he was killed near a saloon, which is located near the Vulcan
mine track, it is surmised that he was drunk at the time of his death. He had,
at any rate, been drinking during the day. The wheels passed over his neck,
severing his head from his body entirely. His latest employment had been that of
a laborer at the Curry mine. Nothing is known of his antecedents, and he had no
family, at least none

...
--The livery men at Quinnesec have opened a road to the lower fall, which can
hardly fail to become a place of popular resort.
--The Norway opera house, which will not be an opera house but a "town
hall," (because John O'Callaghan is sensible,) will be 46 by 80 feet in
size.
...
--The car is ready, and the man. Why, then, does the old order of things
continue, and a letter take two days to travel from Hermansville to Spalding, a
distance of seven miles?
...
--Norway grows. During the two months which intervened between a previous
visit and one which we made on Friday last, as many as twenty new buildings had
been erected, and the place greatly improved otherwise.
...
--The bridge over the Menominee is completed. Mr. Conro, contractor for the
grading, is doing what he can, but is short of men, and the opening of the road
to Florence may be delayed beyond the date contemplated, for that reason.
--Highway robbery is becoming a recognized industry. Near the Chapin mine, a
few days ago, a little fellow was set upon and horribly beaten, but the enterprise was a failure, as he had given his money to a comrade who escaped and
saved it.
--The towns on the range understand the necessity of roads and highways better
than our people seem to. Norway will cut out and work a road to Felch mountain,
distance twelve miles, and one to the Quinnesec fall. Quinnesec has already
roads to both these points, and others are projected.
...
--At Waucedah, on Monday, one Scanlan was arrested and held for an attempt at
highway robbery. He, with three others, waylaid a couple of peddlers and demanded their wealth, but got, instead, fighting and noise. Scanlan, was the only
one captured, and his address, after Judge Goodwin's next tour, will be Jackson,
Jackson county, Mich.
...
--The death of Samuel Gayner, near Norway, announced in the PORT last Saturday, was the subject of a good deal of discussion, many persons, and among them
the men on the train which ran over him, suspecting that he was killed or came
to his death elsewhere, and that his dead body was placed upon the track to
cover up a crime. The inquest held on the remains did not get at any evidence in
support of the theory, however, and the verdit was "accidental death,"
which was probably correct. The man was liable to come to his death in just that
way.
--We had been led to suppose that the Skandinavian immigration to this
region was essentially a mining one, but Mr. Wendel assures us that the idea is
erroneous, that the bulk of the immigrants are agriculturists, and that the hope
and intention of each is to get hold of a piece of land. To this and they
engage in any labor that offers, without losing sight of the purpose, delving in
the mines or chopping in the woods to acquire the small sum sufficient to buy a
home. Mr. W. expects to see the hard-wood land north of Norway taken up and
cultivated by the Norsemen now engaged in and about the mines, their places
being filled by new comers.

...
--The frame-work of the Norway opera house is up.
...
--A town hall, 24x60 feet, is being built at Waucedah by Safford Oatman.
...
--Highwaymen, near Iron Mountain City, on Thursday night last, attacked George
Donaldson and beat and kicked him in an unsuccessful attempt to rob him. They
then attacked Matt. Murray, breaking his arm and stealing his watch and
pocketbook containing $50. The robbers are still at large. --Chronicle, 31st.
...
--On the night of Saturday, July 30 [sic], one James Howarth was dangerously
stabbed by one of a party of five Italians, on the road between Norway and
Vulcan. Officer Bush, of Norway, after making several arrests, finally nabbed
the man identified by Howarth as the one who did the stabbing, Antoine
Christenalli by name, and he was, upon examination, held to the circuit court in
$500 bail.

--No man in the mail car yet.
...
--Penberthy has taken to the woods and "Racketty" Clark wields the
"pencil, pastepot and shears" in the Range office. [NOTE: "Racketty"
is now identified, and working on The Menominee Range in Quinnesec,
following his correspondence to The Iron Port from Powers, or
"42."]
...
--It is now generally believed that the Felch mountain railway will be built
at once. An association of explorers and miners, of which Mr. Maitland, of Negaunee, is president, has a mine there, without doubt, and other parties have
good indications. We are assured that the road will be built as soon as there is
any ore to come out.

--The track is laid to Spread Eagle lake.
...
--The same old, slow—coach, inefficient arrangement for mail transmission.
Kick!
...
--A Frenchman, name not given, was killed on the Stephenson mine side-track,
on Saturday last. A loaded car, drawn by a horse, ran over him.
...
--Penberthy has been out on Felch mountain and we gather from his log that he is
not enthusiastic as to the prospects of that range. Professor Roumynger [sic].
state geologist, was of the party, and the first locations of which the log
makes mention are the explorations by McMinn, Tracy and Wood, in 31, 42, 29. The
whole

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section was gone over, and Professor R.'s opinion was that they would have to
look elsewhere for ore. Explorations on 32, 42, 29, and thence eastward to
section 36, were visited and "no satisfactory results" was the
verdict. On 31, 42, 28, Wright Brothers have done a great deal of work, but the
mine, if it exists, has yet to be found. On the next section, 32, 42, 28, Capt.
Curry has struck fine ore and the property seems valuable. On the north half of
the section Matt. Moore's discovery is said to be "second to none in this
part of the country." After viewing the explorations on sections 26 and
35, 42, 29, the Professor advised that work therein be suspended, which advice
was at once acted upon by Mr. Alex. Kempt. On the whole, only 32, 42, 28, is
mentioned at all favorably, which does not coincide with former reports from
that region.

...
--Engines and construction train now run to Spread Eagle lake.
...
--There are only 25 or 30 places between the junction and the river where the
wayfarer can allay his thirst (unless he is thirsty enough to imbibe water, like
a locomotive), in view of which fact, careful travelers, Chicago and Milwaukee
missionaries and "sich," carry a tickler.
--In making an embankment near Spread Eagle lake, for the railway extension, a
sink-hole, or peat-bed, was discovered, into which the embankment sunk as fast
as it was made. The distance across it was short, however, and firm ground was
reached during the fore part of this week.
--Breitung is the most populous township of Menominee county "by a large majority," having 4,554 inhabitants. Menominee township is next, with 3,947.
Breen, Spalding and Stephenson follow, in the order named, with over 1,000 each.
Cedarville, Ingallston and Holmes bring up the rear with 222, 195 and 158,
respectively.
...
--The man who was killed at the Stephenson mine was a Frenchman named
Rubaur.

--The town hall at Norway approaches completion.
...
--Building goes on all along the range. We noticed quite a number of new houses
at Frederickton, as we passed there, on Tuesday, and others at Norway, Quinnesec
and Iron Mountain.
...
--The reception and entertainment of the members of the Institute of Mining
Engineers, at Quinnesec, was a neat thing -- as neat as anything we have seen in
many a day. The opera house had been decorated in their honor, and tables set
with what was modestly called a lunch, but which was really a banquet. After a
time for attention to the toilet, the guests were escorted thither and seated,
and were welcomed in a short address (he knew they were hungry) by John L.
Buell (we might call him "Hon." or "Esq.," but prefer the
plainer phrase), to which, after full justice to the viands, the president of
the institute, Mr. Win. P. Shinn, of St. Louis, re plied in a happy vein, and
called upon Mr. Charles Ridgely, of Springfield, Ill., whose fluent and witty
speech was just the thing for the occasion. The ladies of

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the party, or such of them as desired, were then taken to the lower Quinnesec
fall, while the gentlemen visited the group of mines embracing the Keel Ridge,
Ludington and Cornell. At the Cornell mine one of the engineer party said,
"I have seen some iron mining, but never before iron ore mined with pick
and shovel only."

--The track is laid to Commonwealth and will reach Florence in about another
week.
--A passenger train has been put on west of Quinnesec. It leaves there on the
arrival of No. 4, runs as far as Lake Antoine junction and returns in time for
No. 5.
...
--Among the mining engineers who visited the range was a representative of the
Iron Age. In his report of the trip of the institute of where they went and what
they saw, he calls the Menominee range "the latest and grandest
development" of mining industry in the regions they visited.

...
--Norwayans want a township of their own and called Norway, and will ask the
board of supervisors to so order at its annual meeting. They ask for towns 39,
40 and 41 north, of range 29 west.
...
--The railroad track will have reached Florence by the time this is read, but
will not be in a condition for anything except construction work before the 1st
proximo, at which date it is probable that shipments of ore will commence from
both Commonwealth and Florence.

--A wagon road is under construction from Florence to Keyes lake.
--The Commonwealth will probably commence shipping early in the coming week.
--No mail agent on the M.R. railroad yet. Uncle Sam is awfully slow about it.
...
--The track of the railway was completed to Florence last Saturday, but is not
yet open for business.
--0'Callaghan's hall at Norway, is so nearly completed that it is proposed

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to
open it with a ball on Friday, the 8th.

--In an affray at a camp of railway
laborers near Commonwealth, a man by the name of Burke wounded another, whose
name we have not heard, very severely, with an ax.
...
--Freights are pressing, and the road
to Florence will be got into working order and business undertaken at the
earliest possible day. The work yet to be done is the widening of the clay cut
beyond Spread Eagle lake and the surfacing of the new track.
...
--We hear that the Menominee mining
company is considering the question whether it is economy to pay the
Northwestern money enough every year to pay for a railroad. Some members of the
company think it is not, and that true economy dictates the building of a road
and docks by the company for the transportation and shipment of its own ores.

...
--The company will put on a passenger
train between Quinnesec and Florence next Monday.
...
--The new hall at Norway was opened
with a dance on Friday (yesterday) evening. We return thanks for "complimentaries,"
which we were too busy to use.
...
--A collision between a loaded ore
train and an empty one occurred at Vulcan, on Saturday morning last. Nobody
killed -- one engine pretty well used up and a dozen or so of ore cars ditched,
was the outcome. Two conductors and two engineers suspended until the case can
be decided upon at headquarters is the corrollary [sic].

--In all the smashes on the M.R.
railroad last week, no one was killed -- not even a bone broken.
--On Friday of last week some cars
upon the Vulcan mine siding got away from the men in charge and ran out upon the
main track just in time to be caught by an ore train. The engine and a lot of
cars were disabled.
...
--The Chronicle details the truth of
the report that the Menominee mining company is considering the possibility of
railroad building and says that the project under consideration is of vessel
owning instead of railroad. Maybe the Chronicle knowns -— we're sure we don't,
but gave the rumor as we heard it.
--We heard, just before going to
press last week, that the banks of Quinnesec, Norway and Florence had closed and
the banker, A.J. Cronkhite, levanted, but so vaguely and upon such slender
authority that we did not use the information. It was true, though, and now
everybody says: "Of course. Didn't he play the same game at Neenah?"

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--At about daylight on Saturday morning last, a loaded ore train collided with
a train of empties, near Hermansville, to the general demolition of both engines
and trains. The wreck was so large and the work of clearing it away so tedious
that a track was built around it ir order that work might go on. The loaded
train was the tresspasser, being behind time and out of place, while the empty
one was on time.
--The opening ball at 0'Callaghan Opera House hall (Bowlders [editor of The
Chronicle in Norway] could not be got to consent to a more modest apellation
-- no "town halls" for him, while Quinnesec has an opera house), at
Norway, was numerously attended and heartily enjoyed. If any of our readers
want a poetic description they can turn to their copy of Byron -- Don Juan,
canto commencing, "There was a sound of revelry by night" -- which
will answer for the Norway affair as well as for that at Brussells, all but the
wind up.

...
--The road from Florence to Keyes lake is completed and in use.
...
--Five lumber companies have built warehouses and established supply depots at
Florence. The Menominee mining company is building a big store at the same
place.

--A man named Rupert [sic - Ruprecht] has started a sawmill near (west of)
Waucedah.
...
--At Florence, on Tuesday last Frank Martin attempted to board a moving train,
but missed his hold, was thrown under the wheels and killed.

THE winter schedule of the C. & N.W. went into effect last Sunday. The
passenger train north now arrives at 11:25 a.m. and the south passenger at 3:32
p.m. The Quinnesec freight leaves at 7:55 a.m. and arrives at 6:50 p.m. The
south freights leave at 5 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and the north freights at
12:45 and 6:45 a.m. Passenger trains arrive at Florence at 12:35 and 6:40 p.m.
and leave at 8:23 a.m. and 2:25 p.m.

...
--We learn from the Menominee Range that a company has been organized to work
the "big find" at Felch mountain. It is called the Northwestern Mining
company, and is officered as follows: W.D. Reese, president; J.N. Glidden,
treasurer; Win. Sedgwick, secretary and Natt Moore, superintendent. Active
mining operations will be undertaken at once. Also that the Lumberman's company
has finished exploration on 30, 43, 32, having developed a 22-foot vein of good
ore.

Engineering parties are still working up the Hermansville and Felch Mountain
routes. It is safe to say that is the one that will be chosen. --Men. Herald.
On the contrary, it is as safe as any prediction can be that it is not the route
"that will be chosen" by the C. & N.W. Railway company.

...
--We have it from quite a reliable source that the C. & N.W. railway company
is making preparations to extend their line to the Iron river country, and a
branch from there to Ontonagon, and from that place to Houghton, while the main
line will be run to connect with the Northern Pacific. The course has already
been mapped out. --Men. Range.

--One of the experimental lines of the Michigan & Wisconsin road crossed the
track of the M.R. road just east of the station at Norway.
...
--The engineer force of the Wisconsin & Michigan railroad company is at
work, running experimental lines north of the Menominee river. The lines point
towards the Little Bay de Noquette -- not towards Ontonagon.

...
--The work of laying the side—track to the Sturgeon mine is now in progress.
...
--We hear of an "argyment wid fishts" between a couple of railroad
men, "out on the branch," on Monday last. No casualties, and no names.

...
--The C. & N.W. company will proceed at once to determine the route of extension north and west of its present terminus at Florence, and there is every
probability that the iron region north of the Brule will be reached by rail
before the shipping season closes.

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--Mr. Palmer, with a surveying party, went out [on] the branch, on Monday, to
run lines west and north of Florence for the extension of the railroad.
Authorities differ as to what the company intends, but to an outsider it appears
very plain that the C. & N.W. can not afford to delay the extension of its
lines to Felch mountain, Crystal falls and the country west of the Paint and
north of the Brule.

THE train was delayed at Waucedah the other day for ten minutes, by a novel obstruction, namely a free fight, beside the cars. The combatants
struggled promiscuously and rolled over among the car wheels, so that if the
train had moved, it would probably have sent some of them to a celestial
Donnybrook' Fair. Denny O'Brien was a prominent figure in the melee, and emerged
with a bad cut on the forehead. Not satisfied with that, he came here and later
in the day ran across a snag, that closed his left peeper, and made his features
resemble a map of the Yellowstone Park.

MR. POWERS, with an engineer party, left here on Wednesday to run the
lines for the mine sidings at the Metropolitan and Northwestern locations, and
we are informed that work on the Felch Mountain branch will be commenced at once
and pushed as rapidly as possible. It is intended to complete the branch in time
to allow of [sic - for] the shipment of some 50,000 tons from the two mines
mentioned during the present season.

THE Canal Co., are preparing to lay out a town site on the Felch Mountain
Range. It will be located on the south half of the south west quarter of section
29, 40 28. The town will adjoin the Metropolitan and Northwestern mines
location, and lies on a level piece of hard wood land, high and dry, and there
is an abundance of excellent water. We understand that a good many persons are
preparing to purchase building lots.

...
--Felch [ran the Commercial Hotel in Quinnesec and proposed building a hotel at
Felch Mountain in mid-April, 1881] will run a tri-weekly stage from Norway to
Felch mountain, leaving on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 9:45 a.m. --Iron
Chronicle, 7th.

--The extensions of the Northwestern railway to the Felch mountain, Paint river
and Iron river districts are progressing with all possible speed. It is not
probable that that company can hold its monopoly of the ore-carrying on the
range, but the company that comes in to compete with it will find the
Northwestern every where there is a mine and pretty well fixed to stand
competition.

...
--Work has been commenced on the railway extension beyond Florence.
...
--Albert Keep, president and J.B. Redfield, secretary of the Menominee rail road
-- the Wisconsin organization of the range branch of the peninsula division of
the Northwestern, on the 23d filed an amendment to the articles of association
of that company, providing for the extension from Florence to the Brule and
thence through Marquette and Ontonagon counties, in this state, to lake
Superior. The extension proposes 148 miles of line north and west of Florence
and don't ask for anybody's iron lands either.

...
--Captain Runkle contracts for the railroad extension to Crystal Falls and has
already sixty men at work.
...
--Work upon the railway extensions, towards Felch mountain and Crystal falls, is
pushed with all possible vigor, but it is almost impossible to keep men in the
woods at laborers [sic] wages, on account of the flies and musquitos [sic].

FRANK ROACH, a brakeman employed on ore train No. 52, was severely hurt at
the Ludington mine on Monday. He was standing on the back end of the tender as
some cars were being pushed, when the draw-head of the car next [to] the engine
broke and the broken end caught and crushed his ankle. He was brought to his
home at Norway and placed in Dr. McLeod's care, who amputated the leg on Wednesday.

THE morning passenger train, going west on the Menominee River
railroad, on Tuesday last, came near sustaining what might have been, a serious
accident. At the Menominee River Junction, the train had just passed the Y and
was waiting for one of the trainmen to adjust the switch -- which seemed to have
something the matter with it -- when am ore train came thundering along at a
rapid rate of speed. As soon as the situation of things was observed, the
passengers in the rear car, rushed to the door and jumped out, and the train got
under motion as soon as possible. The ore train had also clapped on brakes and
the switch still not being adjustable ran off the track. No further damage was
done, and the accident was soon remedied.

...
--Three town sites have been laid out in the Felch mountain neighborhood and
named, respectively, Felch Mountain, Metropolitan and Theodore. Felch Mountain
is near the Warner location, occupying the s1/2 se1/4 29, 42, 28; Metropolitan
adjoins the Metropolitan mine property, on 32, 42, 28, and is the property of
that company; and Theodore is the property of the canal company and adjoins the
Northwestern mine on 29, 42, 28. Two of them, we can not say which, will
doubtless be fizzles.

...
--The C. & N.W. company will at once extend a branch to the Indiana mine and
the mine commence shipping.
...
--Four hundred men are employed on the railroad to Crystal Falls and it is
expected that ore can be shipped over it early in October.
...
--The prospect is now that the railroad will not be completed to Felch mountain
before the close of the season for shipments. —-Range, 7th.

...
--A postoffice has been established at Felch mountain. Name
"Metropolitan" and L.A. Friedrichs is postmaster.

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--The rains have made the roads to and through the Felch mountain district
almost impassable, nevertheless [sic]. O'Callaghan has succeeded in trnasporting
a saw-mill thither and will soon have it at work. A court has been established
L.D. Fleming, magistrate, and John Madden, constable, and a school district is
to be organized. All which we learn from the Range.

ON Tuesday last, between Vulcan and Norway, the freight train and an
ore train, which was being handled by the switch engine, collided. The trains
met on a curve and could not see each other until just as they met. The several
engines were re versed, but too late to avert a collision. Both locomotives were
badly demoralized
-- the freight engine getting all jammed up and disfigured, and the switch
engine came out of the muss minus the smoke stackand [sic - smoke stack] and
some other trimmings. Twenty-three ore cars were thrown off the track. Nobody
was hurt and nobody was to blame, except the railroad track, which seemed to be
extensively crooked in just about that locality. The same day ten ore cars left
the track at Waucedah. This accident was the fault of the track again. The rails
spread.

The Milwaukee and Northern Railroad Company,

incorporated on June 5, 1880, was
the next railroad to extend into what is now Dickinson County, as evidenced by
the following articles.

THE CURRENT is informed upon authority that it seems reliable that the extension of the Milwaukee & Northern railroad is to be completed to the range at
once. The engineers are now at work making the final survey, and our informant
tells us that the heavy cuts on the new line will be made this winter. In the
spring the work of grading, etc., will be commenced, and the road pushed to
completion, as far as Iron Mountain, at least, as rapidly as possible. What
direction the new road will take from Iron Mountain we are not informed, but
that it will be in a western direction hardly admits of doubt. A branch is to be
built to Norway, and which will no doubt be extended to both the Vulcan mines.
The new road, which is now built to a point some twenty-five miles south of Iron
Mountain, besides opening up a valuable timber country to the south of us, will
afford our mining and other business interests much greater facilities for
shipping, and as competition is the life of trade, it will also mean lower rates
of freight. There is scarcely a doubt, from what we have heard, but that cars
will be running on the new road early next summer.

The grading of the Milwaukee & Northern between Iron Mountain and
the river will be completed about July 1, when a track will be laid, and stone
for the abutments of the bridge across the Menominee will be hauled from the
Ludington quarry.

Mr. A.F. McGillis came in last night from the line of the extension of
the Wisconsin & Michigan R.R. [Milwaukee & Northern]. Mr. McGillis has
the contract for all the bridges needed on the extension, some thirteen or
fourteen in all, and is to have them completed by August first. He says he has
four done, and that track laying from Iron Mountain will soon commence, when he
will be able to handle his timber with greater facility and will no doubt be on
contract time. He says there are some very high trestles to build, one of them
being eighty feet; that for some of them he will be able to get the timbers in
their place only by aid of a track and locomotive. He is of the opinion that
grading will be done, but the track will not be done, by August 1st.

--By the time this reaches our readers the W. & M.R.R. [Milwaukee
& Northern] will have reached the river in its approach to Iron Mountain.
The only break in the line will be an unfinished bridge and trestle across the
river, and as there will be some 700 feet of trestle to build after the track
reaches the river, it is not at all probable that the road will be open for
traffic before October 1st.

--The Wisconsin & Michigan R.R. [Milwaukee & Northern] has at last been
completed to Iron Mountain, and we learn that the first train came in on
Tuesday last. This will no doubt add materially to the business of that place,
and we hope benefit the whole range.

Yesterday chief engineer C.H. Vinal, of the Milwaukee & Northern railroad,
moved to Norway with his crew to look over the district, and to run the preliminary lines for an extension of that road to this place. It is a question which
will be the most feasable [sic] route, and several lines will probably be run.
Engineer Vinal informed the writer that he has already run one line from Iron
Mountain parallel to and south of the C. & N-W track, and will continue at
work until a route has been decided upon. There is no doubt, (as we asserted two
weeks ago) that we shall soon have another road, and it won't be one of Chase
Osborn's paper roads either.

The following newspaper articles and time charts taken from contemporary
newspapers once again document happenings "along the line" on the
eastern half of the Menominee Iron Range, and remind the reader how essential
the railroads were for commerce and travel during the latter part of the
nineteenth century.

Any one passing through the main street of Iron Mountain, and hearing the
perpetual jangling of the warning locomotive bells, would scarcely imagine the
enormous extent of the traffic that has to be registered up at Antoine. From the
5th of May until the 24th of October last year no fewer than 8,067 different
trains were registered, and the probability is that that great average will be
considerably exceeded this year.

OF the 158 trains that will run on the upper peninsula division of the C.N.
& W. [sic] this summer, all but 60 will run on the Menominee range branch.
As the branch is a single track part of the way it will require some close
running to keep all this traffic moving along without delay. Ninety eight trains
a day is four every hour out of the 24, with two over to be sandwiched in
somewhere. In fact we saw three ore trains pull out after the morning passenger
had passed, the other day, not more than five minutes apart. Here is one
employment, at least, where it behooves a man to be on time.

On the left portion of the following page is an enlarged copy of the railroad
time tables which appeared regularly on page 5 of The Menominee Range,
showing the Milwaukee & Northern schedule adopted March 18, 1888, and the C.
& N.W. schedule.

THAT miserable little tinder box dignified with the title of C.
& N.W. depot must go. It is a wonder to us how it is that an
enterprising concern like the company could think of maintaining
such an unsightly, incommodious, and discreditable hovel as its
depot in a city like Iron Mountain. Is there no positive danger of
people arguing, "as the depot, so the company?"

At the last council meeting, Mr. Alderman O'Connell rose and made an
explanation which directly affects the best interests of Iron Mountain. But while the C. & N.W. Railroad Company may affect to
make threats against Iron Mountain, the City of Iron Mountain, now
constituted, can well afford to reply that while it loves the C.
& N.W. Co. fondly, it can still afford to love itself better.
If, for instance, the company choose to say to the city that if you
choose to compel us to build a brick building which shall have some
appearance of decency about it we shall remove our depot beyond the
fire limits, then the people of Iron Mountain can reply that they
don't care a cent what the company may please to do. We mean to have
a decent depot here, and are going to have it. We have passed out of
tutelage, and are now proposing to have some tutelating on our own
account.
What Alderman O'Connell said was this. "I have to inform this
council that the old commit- tee met Mr. Lindsley, the
superintendent of the C. & N.W. Company, about a year ago, on
this very subject of the disgraceful and dangerous nature of the
depot here, and he then promised to do everything reasonable that
the city demanded. I understand since, however, that they have been
making inquiries as to how they could get out of the expense and
responsibility of building a brick depot; if they could remove
outside of the fire limits -- Antoine, for instance. I think another
committee should be now appointed to wait again upon the
representatives of the company and urge them the necessity of doing
something, as

regards that depot, which shall be a credit to themselves as well as to Iron
Mountain. Mr. Lindsley said that they had specifications for a new building
already prepared in Chicago, and that they intended to remove the water tank and
the coal

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shed,
but even if they remove their tank, so that their engines need not stop in Iron
Mountain, I think it is absolutly [sic] necessary that we should have a good and
creditable depot here.
Alderman Graham asked when the
committee had obtained Superintendent Lindsley's promise, and Alderman O'Connell
said he thought it was so far back as last October.
Alderman Sweet proposed that a
committee of three be appointed to confer with the C. & N.W. authorities not
only upon the subject of a decent railway depot but upon the necessity of
improving the crossing at the Ludington, which was now a regular danger and a
public nuisance.
Mayor Anderson remarked that the
company could not possibly avoid their responsibilities, because the statutes
declared that if the city's architect declared their depot to be dangerous and
unsafe after a certain time, they they were liable to a fine of $500 if they
used that depot after the expiration of the time.
Alderman Ingram, seconded Alderman
Sweet's motion, which was of course, carried.

When Bro. Youngs, of The Florence News, wrote that the C. & N.W. depot in
this city was more like a pig pen than a depot, probably he was not aware how
absolutely correct that statement was. It is literally and litterally a pig pen.
Pigs wallow in the mud under the depot and the stench that arises some days is
enough to knock the baggage truck off the platform. We expect some day to see
the passenger train knocked into the middle of Stephenson avenue by it. The
reason why no one falls off the platform in front of the incoming train is
because they become so paralyzed by the horrible smell that they stagger up
against the side of the depot, and the conductor and brakemen have to rush out
and drag the passengers on board the train. Once in a while they get an
invigorating whiff from a petroleum tank car standing on the side track that
braces them up wonder fully, but no more frightful calamity could ever happen to
a mortal than to be found dead around that depot.
We take a good deal of satisfaction
in assuring our readers, including our Florence friends, that there is now no
doubt that the company will build a hand some brick depot in this city this
summer. There is a good deal to be done and it cannot be done in a day. The
people of this city have no desire to be unreasonable, and will cheerfully wait
with patience, so long as they are assured that their necessities are commanding
the attention of the railroad officials. A force of men are now at work
preparing the ground at Antoine for the water tank, and as soon as a tank is
built there, the tank near the depot will be removed. This will relieve us of
the great annoyance of having trains stop at this tank every few minutes, and
block two or more streets while the engineer takes water. The old depot will be
moved south one block and used as a freight depot, and the new depot will be
erected on the site of the old one. To make room for the larger structure,
however, tracks will have to be moved, some filling done, etc., which will all
take time. It is expected also that two of the old spur tracks running up to the
Chapin mine will be removed, thus giving a clear street in front of the new
buildings now being erected on the burnt district. Before snow flies Iron
Mountain can boast of the handsomest depot in this part of the state, and then
if Brother Youngs dares to say it looks like a pig pen we shall come up to
Florence, and shortly after our arrival the undertaker will have a job.

When the M. & N. train arriving
at Ellis Junction at 9:45, reached that station last night, the writer noticed
an unusual degree of excitement among the passengers, and inquiring to ascertain
the cause, learned that the train had been robbed between Beaver and the
Junction. A rather tall, raw boned but well dressed man, wearing a heavy blonde
[sic] moustache, boarded the train at Beaver. He entered the rear door of the
last coach, and when the train pulled out, drew two revolvers and proceeded to
relieve the passengers and train men of their valuables. He first demanded the
brakesman's wealth, but that individual proved to be entirely destitute of
filthy lucre. He ordered the brakesman to go on ahead of him, and made his
demand on the next victim. In this manner he drove the passengers ahead of him
and robbed those who were unfortunate enough to have money about them. He
secured from John Wells, lumberman of Menominee, about $50 in cash and a
valuable gold watch. Having held up the passengers in both coaches he sat down
on the front platform and jumped off the train and skipped for the woods as the
train pulled into Ellis Junction. The fellow showed lots of nerve. It is
singular that one man could successfully rob a train and escape without arrest.
Passengers who were on the train say that the robber took no precautions to
prevent attack from the rear after passing through the first coach, and several
men remained on the front platform, and returned to that coach after he had
passed by, but evidently everyone was too much frightened to think of making any
attack. The robber could easily have been shot if any one had a revolver with
him. A large number of men started out to scour the woods about Ellis Junction,
but at this writing we have not heard of the bold robber's arrest.

----

$500
REWARD.

The Milwaukee & Northern railroad
company, will pay $500 reward, for the arrest and conviction of the man that
robbed the passenger train No. 1, last night. Discription [sic] of man that
robbed the train:
He is about 5 feet 9 inches high,
will weigh 150 or 160 pounds, wore dark clothes and had dark soft hat, his pants
were turned up at the bottom; wore a blonde [sic] moustache and about a week's
growth of beard; looked dark, but his face was dirty; he carried a yellow cloth
bag being over his shoulder and a small bundle tied up with a blue polka dot
handkerchief; he carried a large 6 shooter and a small nickel plated pocket
pistol.

CIVIL Engineer Palmer of the C. & N.W. railroad,
again viewed the sites, for a new depot in this city yesterday. He seemed to be
most favorably impressed with the ground immediately in front of the present
structure and nearer Stephenson avenue, and it is understood that situation will
eventually be chosen.

THE C. & N.W. Railroad Company is making quite an improvement at the Antoine
switch this season. In addition to the immense coal shed, the water tank is soon
to be placed there, the foundation for which is alreay complete, a new office 12

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by
24 is being built, four new side tracks are being put in, and it is
probable that next sea son a round house will be built there to
accommodate the six or eight engines that now have no shelter when off
duty. Work on the new de pot will begin soon -- that is, as soon as the
heaviest of the work at Antoine is finished.

Mr. Willis has rented rooms in John R. Wood's brick block [First National
Bank], which will be used by himself and associates, who are here to
superintend the survey and construction of a new railroad from this city
to Escanaba. A surveying party will be sent out at once, and it is
asserted that the new road will be ready for business next May. We can not
learn from Mr. Willis at present what company is pushing this enterprise
but we are assured that it is not the Milwaukee & Northern. It is a
new company, we are told, that has been organized to carry forward this
enterprise, and they have se cured from the Milwaukee and Northern dock
facilities at Escanaba. As their docks are to be erected on lands that
have been held by the Milwaukee and Northern company, it was natural to
suppose that this company had undertaken the construction of the new road.
The people of this city are not so particular as to what company builds
the road, as that the road be built. This new outlet to our nearest lake
shipping port cannot fail of being a great advantage to Iron Mountain and
the other towns on the range that will eventually be tapped by it.

Mr. Willis started out a
surveying party last Monday to begin locating and establishing the grade
of the new railroad from this city to Escanaba, and another yesterday, and
assures us that the work of construction will be pushed as fast as
moneyand [sic - money and] muscle can

push
it. The line will start at a point near where the Milwaukee & Northern
crosses the Chicago and Northwestern, and pass along the north side of Lake
Antoine and Lake Fumee, cross the Sturgeon river near the month [sic - mouth] of
Pine creek, and so on in as direct a line as possible to Escanaba. The first 20
miles will be under

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contract by the first of September. There will be a good deal of heavy work at
this end of the line, but it is expected that the rails will be laid on the
first 25 miles before snow flies. In the meantime work will also be pushed on
the construction of docks at Escanaba, so that they will be in readiness for
business as soon as the road is completed. If Mr. Willis knows who or what
corporation is responsible for all this activity he continues to keep it to
himself. However, that is not important to the general public so long as the
money comes [sic - comes] from some where to keep the men a hustling.

THE Chicago & North-Western is now selling tickets to Ishpeming, for
$2.35, former price $4.40. Mr. Stiles has been working for this reduction for
some time and at last his efforts have been crowned with success.
...
THE M. & N. train going south that arrives here at 6:45, now stops twenty mi
nutes for supper, a change that is certainly in accord with the comfort of its
passengers. It arrives here at about the same time that people usually take
their evening meal, and we wonder that the change has not been made before.

Friday of last week the writer visited the new mill of the Laing Lumber Co., at
what has been known as Holmes Siding 20 miles north of Iron Mountain on the line
of the M. & N. R. Rd. The Mill is located on the E1/2 of the S.W.1/4 of Sec.
29, 43 30 on the west side of the track, and about six miles east of the
Michigamme river. It is situated on a beautiful knoll on the north forty of the
80-acres, and when completed will be second to none in point of convenience and
facilities for economical hand ling of logs and the converting of them into the
various descriptions of lumber. The boiler and engine house is a stone structure
30 x 40 ft. in size containing a battery of three boilers and a powerful engine.
The sawmill building proper, is 35 x 140 ft. in size and is claimed to be as
well and strongly framed as any in the u, [sic] p. The machinery now in
operation is one of Prescott's band saw mills of a capacity of from 45 to 50
thousand feet per day, and so arranged that a circular saw may be used when
desired. [sic] an edger and butting saw. A ten-block shingle ma chine and a
planer are also on the ground but not yet in operation, and a dry kiln will soon
be added. About 700 ft. of trestled tramway has been built and a spur track run
on the west side of the tramway, from the north end of the siding to the mill,
and the grading for another track on the east will soon be completed, this spur
track is about 1,800 ft. long. On the east side of the main line and almost
opposite the mill is a small creek with a number of swamps and small ponds to
feed it and this creek has been convented [sic] into a canal which passes under
the rail road to carry the logs into the pond and thus avoid the necessity for
crossing the track with loads of logs. The pond which has been made by building
a dam to hold the waters of the creek. [sic] has now a capacity of about 300,000
ft. and is full of logs, but later it will be so cleared out and the dam raised
as to hold a half million. The logs of which the Co. has already secured about
thirty millions of feet, will be brought as far as the canal above mentioned on
a tramroad, of which about a mile and a half will be finished during the present
month. The present working force at the mill and the camp is about 75 men, but
fully 100 will be employed during the winter, and it is the intention to run
the mill night and day. The working hours, at present, are from 6:30 to 11:30
and 12:30 to 5:30. Ten teams

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of horses are used. Nearly all of the north forty will be used for mill
purposes, and much of it has already been cleared, and cleaned up, to prevent
fires. The build ings now around the mill are only temporary ones and will be
replaced by others on the townsite which we shall speak of later. Two large
force pumps are kept in readiness in case of fire, one in the mill and another
in a building adjoining, the latter having an independent boiler. A fine well
has been sunk near the present eating and sleeping quarters, and the water is
carried in launders to the horse stables. At the time of our visit, 0.
Burlingame, the county surveyor of Menominee county. [sic] was engaged in laying
out a townsite on the south forty. Ten acres had been cleaned up on a beautiful
hardwood ridge and it was the intention of the Company to build a store, a
residence for the president of the Co., residences for the sawyer, filer and
others of the mill men and a mill boarding house before winter sets in, and to
sell lots to those who may wish to invest. The company as nearly as we can learn
is com posed as follows: John 0'Callaghan, Pres.; P. Flanagan, vice-Pres.; W.S.
Laing, Sec'y.; J.R. Wood[,] president of the 1st Nat. bank, of Iron Mountain.
The Company formerly did business at Big. [sic] Wausaukee, Wis., and moved its
base of operations to what will probably be known in [the] future as "Segola
[sic]," last Fall. Mr. O'Callaghan looks after the mill and yard. Senator
Laing has undertaken to hustle a few logs out of the woods, build the town, sell
the lumber and pay the bills, and the chances are that his best girl will not
have much of his company this winter. The Norway contingent, -- his honor the
Judge -- will probably take no active part in the business except to consult
with Mr. Wood as to the declaration of dividends. We can not close this rambling
description without complimenting the cook. If last Friday's dinner was a fair
sample of his ability he is a daisy kitchen mechanic.

A Swede was staggering along the C. & N.W. railroad track last Saturday in
front of Blackney & Son's furniture store just as the noon passenger was
coming into the city. He paid no attention whatever to the repeated warnings of
the whistle, until finally the "cow-catcher" tossed him about thirty
feet from the track. He appeared to be a little surprised when he picked
himself up, but he was otherwise all right. In fact, the incident seemed to
remind him that it was time to take another drink, and he made ror [sic - for]
the nearest saloon to get it.

--The location formerly known as Holmes Siding, about 20 miles above Iron
Mountain on the line of the M. & N. Ry., has been named "Zagola
[sic]," and a postoffice has been established. This is the property of the
Laing Lumber Co., and a thriving village will probably be built up by the Co's
operations.

Frank Hicks, seven year old son of Samuel Hicks, lost both feet yesterday after
noon on the tram road leading from C shaft, Chapin mine to the quarry. The cars
on this tram road are propelled by an endless wire rope running between the
tracks. Near the quarry there is a turn in the track, and the rope runs around a
horizontal shieve placed beneath the track. The little lad is supposed to have
been running

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along behind a car that was returning to the quarry and stepped into the shieve
box, where his legs were caught between the sieve and rope and cut completely
off a little below the knee. The man in charge of the car heard the boy's cries
and picked him up and carried him to the hospital where he received prompt
surgical attention and is doing as well as could be expected. The officials and
employes of the Chapin Mining Company have been very much annoyed by children
playing on this track, and they have repeatedly warned of the danger of so
doing. It has been the custom of boys and girls living in that vicinity to place
a board on the rope and ride up and down the track, at the imminent peril of
being caught and mangled on one of the numerous shieves and rollers over which
the rope runs. We hope the children will take warning from this accident and in
the future indulge in some less hazardous amusement.

John Peterson, yard master at the M. & N. depot, while attempting to couple
some cars last evening about nine o'clock, stepped into a cattle guard and fell
and the cars passed over him, crushing his right leg so badly that it must be
amputated near the body. Peterson is a young man of industrious and' temperate
habits, who has been married a little over a year, and has the sympathy of his
fellow employes and associates in his misfortune.

...

KILLED BY THE CARS.

About 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, Pat English while crossing the railroad track at
the hotel crossing, Quinnesec, was struck by a [sic] ore train, and died about
two hours later. Tom McKenna was crossing the track at the same time and just
escaped by a hair's breath [sic], but as Pat was carrying two pails of water he
could not escape. The train was running at a high rate of speed, as the trains
generally do through this town, and we hope this terrible accident will have a
tendency to stop the practice.

The Chicago & Northwestern railway company is now running a through sleeping
car daily between Florence and Milwaukee. Passengers can procure accommodation
therein by applying to agent C. & N.W. railway at Iron Mountain.

John Peterson, the yard master who was so seriously injured in the M. & N.
depot yard last week Wednesday, died Thursday night. Funeral services were held
in the Brown street Swedish church last Sunday afternoon, attended by a large
number of railroad employes and other citizens of this city, who knew Mr.
Peterson to

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be a man of excellent character, industrious habits and genial disposition. The
switch engine that had been the cause of his death, was tastefully draped in
mourning and the bell tolled as the funeral procession passed the depot. Mr.
Peter son leaves a young widow who is nearly distracted by her cruel
bereavement.
The same night, Mr. A.H. Mills, tank-master, for the C. & N.W. railroad
company at this place, also breathed his last after a brief illness from
paralysis, and his remains were also buried Sunday, the services being held at
the Central Methodist church. Mr. Mills was one of the oldest settlers of this
city, and a man respected by all who knew him. His aged wife and bereaved
children have the sympathy of the entire community.

Last Sunday, as the large funeral procession following the remains of John
Peterson, the yard-master at the M. & N. depot who was killed last Thursday
[passed], George Corning's horse, driven by Andrew Nelson, became unmanagable on
Brown street and upset the buggy, throwing the occupants into the street. The
now thoroughly terrified animal dashed through the alley back of Stephenson
avenue, the buggy part of the time one side up and part of the time the other
side up, and turning into Ludington street at the post office the horse fell
opposite Schuldes' store. When the outfit came to a halt the horse was lying
partly on the sidewalk and partly in the gutter, and the buggy was bottom side
up. After all this rough usage one would naturally think that Mr. Corning would
need to buy a new buggy and possibly another horse, but after the horse was got
on his feet and the buggy righted, the only ap parent injury was slightly
damaged thills, that a few dollars will make as good as new.

MAY BE A BLUFF.

Ferdinand Schlesinger said to-day that possibly ten or fifteen miles of the
proposed railroad from Iron Mountain to Escanaba would be built this year, but
not more than that. The road is now surveyed from Escanaba to the Brule River,
and it is announced that it will be completed to Crystal Falls and Iron River
within thirty days. A contractor who has been up north looking the ground over,
does not think the road will be built at all. It stands to reason, he says, that
the Chicago & North-Western will do everything possible to prevent the
construction of a road that would take away a great portion of the traffic on
their Menominee Range branch. The Schlesinger syndicate is shipping, or was very
recently, about 6,000 tons of [ore] per day, and with a business of such
magnitude the syndicate can well enough afford to spend a few thousand dollars
in making a survey, if the North-Western is thereby induced to lower rates. --Wisconsin.

Our readers will remember the unfortunate accident that befell Frankie Hicks, about a month ago, by which he lost both his feet. Being crippled in such a terrible manner his opportunities for gaining a livelihood when he has to depend
upon himself for support will not of course be as varied as if he possessed
sound limbs, and unless he is able to qualify himself for some employment which
will call for mental rather than physical activity, his future presents a dreary
prospect. His misfortune has excited much sympathy from the kindhearted people
of our city, who will be glad to learn that Frankie is to be given an
opportunity to make the most of his faculties. Supt. Cady presented his case to
President Schlesinger, and the later [sic - latter] has sent word that he will
not only provide a present need that was asked for but will bear the expense of
his education. Thus the calamity that has befallen Frankie when he has nearly
his whole life before him, is robbed of one of its most distressing features.

The people of this city are in no humor at present to find fault with the Chicago and Northwestern railroad company, and indeed they have no reason to be.
Whether they shall or not next season, in deference to the wishes of our worthy
mayor, fence in and sod that portion of their right of way lying between their
track and Stephenson avenue, thus forming several beautiful little parks along
the west side of that street, we must give them credit for having greatly
improved the appearance of Stephenson avenue in what they have done. Their
sightly and comfortable depot is of course the most prominent improvement made,
and has been put up with that care and taste that shows that the company
appreciates the growing importance of Iron Mountain. The removal of the water
tank to the Antoine switch has not only removed an unsightly object, but has
done away with the annoyance suffered so long, of having long trains block two
or more streets while the engineer stopped to take water. The street and
sidewalk approaches to the track have been well graded, and there seems to be
nothing left to be done in the way of improvement, except the ornamentation
suggested by Mayor Anderson. In running a Pullman sleeping car over the range
branch they afford the traveling public a comfort which will be appreciated by
those who have occasion to come here from the south, or to go south from this
range. A ride from this city to Milwaukee or Chicago over the Chicago and
Northwestern is now a pleasant journey in every respect.

Last Friday we visited that flourishing little city founded by Hon. W.S. Laing
and his associates, John O'Callaghan and P. Flanagan, known as Sagola. The train
was late, and when we stepped off at the station it was past the dinner hour,
and with sharpened appetite we made our way as quickly as possible to the
boarding house, where we found the cook and his assistants busy cleaning up the
remains of a dinner which had been served to about 100 persons. About the first
man we met was our old friend Charlie Butler, yard foreman at the mill, and he
bespoke the good graces of the cook in our behalf, and we were soon surrounding
what is known as a good square meal. Without any desire to flatter we can
truthfully say that it was the best meal we ever sat down to in a mill boarding
house, and was way ahead of a good many meals we have sat down to in so-called
first-class hotels. With the accompaniment of silver ware [sic], napkins and
wooden tooth picks [sic], it would

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have done credit to the finest hotel in the land. Having eaten enough to satisfy
four ordinary men, we started out to hunt up Mr. Laing himself, and we found he
was a good deal like the Irishman's flea -- when we had our hand on him he
wasn't there. We corralled him at last in the new store building just being
completed near the depot -- a large, well built, two-story structure, which is
to be filled with merchandise of every description that is needed to supply the
various wants of Sagola people. We spent the afternoon walking through the
extensive yards and mill of the Laing Lumber Company. The lumber produced by
this industry is of the finest grade, and as far as our observation went their
poorest grade will double discount the majority of the material that has gone
into Iron Mountain buildings in years past. This mill appears to be crowded to
its utmost capacity with orders for its product, as it certainly deserves to be
from the quality of lumber produced, if for no other reason. The mill is now
sawing from 30,000 to 35,000 feet of lumber per day and 100,000 shingles, but
when everything is got down to working order, will have a capacity of nearly
twice that much. One of the accessories to this end is a new four-foot smoke
stack, 100 feet high, which is now being set up, the present one -- a
three—foot stack -- having been found to afford insufficient draft to make the
required amount of steam. The mill is compelete in every respect, with both
band and circular saws, with steam feed, shingle machines, lath mills, edgers,
etc., and it is a sight worth seeing to stand in one end of the mill and see the
great logs come up the incline as fast as the carrier can be hauled in, unloaded
and returned for another load, and to watch the log go through the mill almost
as fast as a man can walk, and in its course be transformed into boards, plank
and timber of various dimensions, loaded upon lumber carts and pushed down the
long dock to be piled in the yard. There are now about 100 men working in and
about the mill, and they have to hustle to keep out of the way. The foundation
for a planing mill was being laid while we were there, and this mill will
probably be in operation next week.
Sagola, with its present industries, will become a prosperous village of 1000 to
1500 inhabitants, and there is [sic] excellent prospects of other industries
being added in the near future. Dry kilns will be put in by the Laing Lumber Company probably next summer, and the large amount of hard wood in that
neighborhood naturally suggests a chair factory or some such industry to utilize
this source of wealth. The extension of the M. & N. railroad from Sagola to
its Ontonagon and Brule River branch will make Crystal Falls and Iron River
assessible as markets for lumber, and as Sagola is surrounded by an excellent
farming country, it is not unreasonable to think that in a few years it will
become the trade center of a prosperous farming population. A splendid opening
is also presented for a good hotel, and we shall be surprised if some
enterprising hotel man does not fill this want before next summer closes. We
were informed by one of the firm that a news paper had been talked of, to be
edited by our honorable ex-senator and Mr. Flana gan, but so far they have been
unable to agree upon the political status of the publication, so for the present
that matter is held in abeyance.

The new C. & N.W. depot was opened to the public last Sunday, and now that
it is entirely complete, its beauty, neatness and convenience makes it all the
more striking in comparison with the dingy old shanty that has served as a depot
so long. The old depot is being remodeled and fitted up into a convenient and
commodious freight house. The office will be in the south end of the building,
where a hardwood floor is being laid, and where such counters, desks, etc., will
be placed as may be required for the ready dispatch of business.

The Schlesinger syndicate, or Escanaba, Iron Mountain & Western railway
serveyors [sic], are camped at the lower Paint river bridge and are busily
engaged running lines. Several preliminaries have been run on both sides of the
river, al most parallel with the C. & N.W. track[.] The engineers have very
little to say regarding the work, but it looks as though they meant to have the
survey completed and men at work on the line before long.
Chicago & North-Western surveyors are camped near the Armenia mine and are
as busy as beavers. From the work being done, it would not surprise anyone if
the Armenia spur would be continued to the Hollister and on to the Mansfield
mine. A preliminary bears in the direction indicated.
The Milwaukee & Northern Railway Co. is also in the swim and has a gang of
surveyors at work east and north of this city. They will branch off the main
line, it is so stated, about opposite the Mansfield mine, and run their line
into that section and on to this city.
All indications seem to be that the railroad companies mentioned, will commence
building in the early spring, with a view of catching some of the immense ore
traffic sure to be offered here in the future. With all its mines and the
prospects of two more railroads, the outlook for Crystal Falls certainly never
was better than today. --Drill. [The Diamond Drill, Crystal Falls, Iron
County, Michigan]